PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. has instructed the Rizal Police Provincial Office to ensure that the Masungi protected areas in the province are secured 24/7 from unauthorized intrusions and all forms of illegal structures.

Azurin also lauded the Rizal PPO headed by Colonel Dominic L. Baccay and the Police Regional Office 4-A led by Brigadier Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. for their immediate actions to resolve the issues raised by officials of the Masungi Georserve.

Col. Baccay said they went into action after getting wind of reports regarding the alleged presence of 30 plus guards from the Sinagtala Security Service along Kilometer 48 of the Marikina-Infanta Highway last September 18 and the alleged discovery of illegal firearms in the area.

The official said he immediately ordered the chiefs of police of the Tanay and Baras Municipal Police Stations and the commander of the Rizal Provincial Mobile Force Company to verify the report.

He added that they eventually learned that six security guards from the Sinagtala Security Service Inc. (SSSI) were posted in the area reportedly upon the instruction of one Biatriz Songuipal who is engaged in a land dispute with the Masungi Georeserve.

Col. Baccay said they also learned that the guards were under the employ of the SSSI which was confirmed by the Regional Civil Security Unit 4-A as a legitimate private security agency which has a License to Operate.

The Rizal police director said that on the afternoon of September 19, the RCSU 4-A conducted a Post-to-Post Inspection of the SSSI guards deployed in the area resulting in the confiscation of twelve 12-gauge shotguns and three caliber .38 revolvers following the failure of the SSSI security officer to present gun papers.

He added that the RCSU 4-A conducted the inspection under Republic Act 5487 or the Act to Regulate the Organization and Operation of Private Detectives, Watchmen or Security Guard Agencies.

Baccay said they found out that the confiscated firearms were found to be covered with papers which will expire on November 18, 2024, hence, no arrests were made since there was no violation of any penal law.

However, the RCSU 4-A discovered that the juridical License to Own and Possess Firearms of the SSSI already expired last January 30. The unit also found out that the License to Exercise Security Profession (LESP) of one of the security guards questioned had already expired, nine has no records with the RCSU 4-A while one has identical name on the RCSU file.

The findings prompted the RCSU 4-A to conduct administrative proceedings against the SSSI to determine its liabilities under RA 5487 and other PNP rules and regulations.

“As to the possible criminal aspect of the issue, this Office is continuously conducting an investigation to determine the possible liabilities of the owners, president, managers, directors or other responsible officers of Sinagtala being a juridical entity under Section 30 of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013,” Col. Baccay said.

Under the law, administrative sanctions may be imposed on licensed security guards who, during inspection will be found to be not having in their possession their License to Exercise Profession, their Duty Detail Order and/or Firearms’ License when carrying guns.

The offense carries a penalty of one-month and one-day to six-months suspension or a fine ranging from a minimum P500 to a maximum of P1,000.

Last September 21, a group of protesters rallied along the Marilaque Highway in Barangay Pinugay in Baras municipality. The rallyists peacefully dispersed however.

Last Friday, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr., Gen. Azurin, Brig. Gen. Nartatez and Col. Baccay conducted an on-site inspection of the protected areas and assured local residents and officials of the Masungi Georeserve of their commitment to ensure the safety and security of all while going all-out to protect the environment.

Col. Baccay ordered the Rizal PMFC and the Baras and Tanay MPS to deploy four teams that will conduct round-the-clock patrol in the protected areas.

Officials of the Masungi Georeserve have lauded the move of Sec. Abalos and Gen. Azurin. They also said that ‘invaders left the area’ after the top officials visited the vast forest reserve last Friday.

“Today, our forests won, like a long drought welcoming its first drops of rain. We found champions in DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos and PNP Chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. who have demonstrated that they are firmly on the side of environment protection and the safety of its defenders. Majority of the invaders were no longer around before the Secretary/s party came on-site,” the Masungi Georeserve said in a statement.

Prior to that, at least 14 security personnel from the SSSI voluntarily left their place before Sec. Abalos and Gen. Azurin and his men inspected the roadside area said to have been illegally occupied by armed men along Kilometer 48 of the Marikina-Infanta Highway in Rizal.

Sec. Abalos and the PNP team led by Gen. Azurin were also joined by officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources led by Undersecretary Jonas Leones during the site visit.

Gen. Azurin promptly ordered his men to keep all areas of Masungi free of illegal occupants and declared that unauthorized security forces won’t be allowed to enter the place especially those being claimed by different parties, without permit from the PNP.

He said that violators of his order would lose their licenses.