DENR asked to intervene in Masungi Georeserve dispute

MANILA, Philippines — Saying the role of the Philippine National Police is limited to maintaining peace and order, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the dispute at the Masungi conservation site should be settled by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“We are calling for the intercession ng DENR. Alam natin na the DENR also exercises enforcement functions,” she told a press conference at Camp Crame yesterday.

Fajardo said the PNP has started its probe on the Sinagtala Security Agency. She said the agency may be held administratively liable after the security guards accused of invading the conservation site failed to present the licenses of their firearms.

Six guards of the security agency reportedly camped along the Marikina-Infanta Highway in Barangay Cuyumbay in Tanay, Rizal.

Fajardo said the 12 shotguns and three .38 caliber revolvers of the security guards were found registered with the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office.

Ann Adeline Dumaliang, Masungi Georeserve co-founder and managing trustee, said the DENR should be more proactive to ensure that the conversation site is secured.

“The DENR needs to step up. It needs to put its foot down... This should not be happening,” she said.

Dumaliang said the Masungi Geopark project is around 2,000 hectares. The reforestation site, where there is an ongoing dispute, has a land area of around 400 hectares.

The Masungi Georeserve administration had earlier called on President Marcos, Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to step in and address what it described as illegal occupation of the conservation site.