2 forest rangers hurt in shooting

MALOLOS, Philippines —Two forest guards of the National Power Corp. (Napocor) were wounded in a shooting in the Angat watershed in Barangay Kabayunan, Donya Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan on Wednesday.

Elpidio Molina and Elmer Tinaypa, who were with a nine-member team of forest rangers checking reports of illegal logging, were taken to the Skyline General Hospital in San Jose del Monte for treatment.

Ador Mallari of Napocor’s Angat watershed area team said the forest rangers were resting in a nipa hut after conducting foot patrol when they were shot by unidentified men.

Members of the Bulacan anti-illegal logging task force and Dumagat families were also reportedly harrased by an armed group led by a certain Rey Alcaraz within the watershed recently.