2 forest rangers hurt in Rizal shooting
MANILA, Philippines — Two workers of the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal province were wounded after they were shot by an unidentified suspect in Baras town on Saturday.
In a statement, the Masungi Georeserve Foundation said two of its forest rangers assigned at a reforestation site in Barangay San Roque were shot near a station of the Special Action Force located within the protected area.
The victims suffered gunshot wounds in the head and neck.
“We are devastated and enraged by this heinous act of violence and attempted murder against forest defenders. We are calling for justice and protection for our team who risk their lives to defend our watersheds and forests,” the Masungi Georeserve Foundation said.
Probers have yet to determine if the attack on the forest rangers was connected to a string of interventions that the government imposed on encroachers.
In the past months, the Masungi Georeserve had received threats and harassment from “disgruntled violators.”
Among these interventions was a recommendation of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to have violators of protected areas criminally charged.
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