Missing DENR forester found dead in Quezon river

LUCENA CITY – A Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) forester who was earlier reported missing was found dead in a river in the Sierra Madre mountain range in General Nakar, Quezon on Saturday. The DENR – Calabarzon said on its Facebook page that the body of Rigor Santos, 30, was found by a search and rescue team at around 11 a.m. in a section of the Agos river in Barangay Pagsangahan. The recovery of the forester’s remains ended a three-day land and air search and rescue operation conducted by government personnel, volunteers and indigenous people. Santos was reported missing on October 28 after being swept away by the raging current while crossing Agos river to get to a plantation project that he and three other DENR workers had to survey and monitor. Santos was a forest monitoring officer assigned at the regional national greening program coordinating office of the DENR in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon). He had been with the DENR for the past eight years. The DENR is extending assistance to the family of the victim.

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