Be mindful of your safety, DENR tells gov’t foresters

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu visits wounded Puerto Princesa City forester Joselito Eyala in a hospital in Metro Manila to award him the Medalya ng Bayani ng Kalikasan. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has asked government foresters to ensure that they would be joined by soldiers or police officers during operations after a forester was shot and wounded in Puerto Princesa City last week.

While the DENR requires foresters to request military assistance during enforcement operations, there are cases when unarmed personnel are forced to make arrests and seizure of forest products during “chance operations,” said Natividad Bernardino, DENR regional director for Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan).

The reminder came after forester Joselito Eyala of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office here was wounded last week after he and his three companions were attacked by the owner of a chainsaw they had confiscated in the village of Bacungan.

“We are supposed to have the police or military during operations but in that case, Eyala and his companions only chanced upon timber poachers,” Bernardino said.

“I have directed my enforcement division to review current protocols and recommend improvements,” Bernardino said.

Chainsaw seizure

The DENR report on the incident said Eyala’s group saw two men, a father and his son, cutting a tree using a chainsaw. This prompted them to confront the suspects and confiscate their equipment after determining it was not registered.

The report said the suspect, Florante Saycon, went after the DENR personnel and shot them using a homemade shotgun. Saycon was later arrested.

According to Bernardino, she has been receiving recommendations to arm forest rangers as a policy measure following the incident.

“[Environment] Secretary [Roy] Cimatu is aware of this policy issue arising from Eyala’s case,” she said.

Cimatu recognized Eyala for “remarkable dedication to public service, bravery and leadership” on Monday as the DENR marked National Heroes Day. —Redempto D. Anda