APART from offering them protection, two forest rangers who were shot while guarding the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal last July 24 will be getting police security training, Philippine National Police chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said on Wednesday.

The top cop said he has already ordered a thorough investigation of the incident.

“Hindi ito ang unang insidente ng pananakot, pananakit at pagpatay sa mga forest ranger dahil ilang mga kaparehong kaso din ang naitala ng inyong kapulisan sa Palawan at iba pang lugar sa mga nakalipas na taon,” he said.

“Dahil dito, inatasan ko na ang ating PNP Training Service na makipag-ugnayan sa DENR sa pagsasanay ng self-defense, threat detection at iba pang mga paghahanda sa pansariling proteksyon sa ating mga forest rangers sa buong bansa,” he explained.

The Masungi Georeserve Foundation has asked for police protection as it was not the first time that its rangers were harassed or attacked. In response, Gen. Eleazar tasked the local police to ensure the protection of forest rangers in the area.

“Mahalaga ang papel na ginagampanan ng rangers para sa pagpapatupad ng environmental laws sa ating protected areas, partikular ang pagbabantay kontra illegal logging at iba pang mga iligal na gawain na nakasisira sa kalikasan,” the PNP chief said.

“Hindi natin hahayaan na maging sitting targets na lang ang mga taong nangangalaga sa ating kalikasan,” he added while undergoing the need to ensure that past incidents of harassments against the forest rangers must be looked into completely.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon