Nueva Ecija forest guards ask for arms to fight illegal loggers

This photo taken last Aug. 10 shows the impunity with which logging continues despite an executive order issued by President Aquino that banned all commercial logging in natural and residual forests. These logs are made to float in the Ihawan River in Loreto, Agusan del Sur, in Barangay Nueva Gracia. They are to be transported to the Agusan River, passing by a militia camp near the river bend. FILE PHOTO

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—Forest rangers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Nueva Ecija have asked the government to arm them in their fight against illegal loggers.

Their call came after a forester, Edgardo de Luna, was attacked twice during a renewed campaign against timber poaching in the Sierra Madre. De Luna survived the gun attacks on May 23 and June 14.

Leovino Ignacio, provincial environment and natural resources officer, said the community environment and natural resources office in the town of Talavera town made the request, believing that the attacks on De Luna “had something to do with our relentless campaign against illegal logging.”

But Ignacio said he could not immediately act on the request because arming government foresters and forest rangers was an issue to be resolved the environment secretary and the director general of the Philippine National Police.

He said an agreement among the DENR, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the PNP and local governments requires law enforcers to provide security to 28 rangers who protect 200,768 hectares of forests in the municipalities of Carranglan, General Tinio, Pantabangan, Gabaldon, Rizal, Laur and Bongabon, all in Nueva Ecija.

These areas are within the Sierra Madre mountain range, one of the last forest frontiers in the country.

“Police and Army officers are supportive of [DENR’s forest rangers]. Besides, there is no budget for the purchase of guns for DENR field personnel,” Ignacio told the Inquirer by phone on Wednesday.

He said the request of Talavera community environment and natural resources office for six motorcycles could be granted because these are necessary for field monitoring.

He said he has reassigned De Luna to the provincial environment and natural resources office in Nueva Ecija following the first attempt on his life. De Luna, who is still in a hospital, has yet to file a request to be transferred to the DENR in Tuguegarao City.