EDITORIAL - Protecting the environment protectors

Palawan is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. The province is also considered a biodiversity corridor, serving as a refuge for both marine and terrestrial threatened species. Despite illegal logging, the province has managed to retain approximately 50 percent of its original forest cover.

Through eco-tourism, the province knows the value of protecting the environment. Yet being the custodian of natural blessings is no easy task. Foreign poachers continue to threaten marine life around Palawan and locals continue to sell endangered pangolins mainly to Chinese traders. Illegal loggers threaten the forests.

The government, through the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, has moved to protect Palawan’s rich biodiversity. Last Wednesday, however, police officers themselves reportedly prevented CENRO personnel from evicting people who have illegally occupied a critical mangrove area and are cutting down mangrove trees.

CENRO members are appointed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. But a police team led by Puerto Princesa chief Col. Marion Balonglong reportedly stopped the serving of the eviction notice, ignoring a  mission order and other documents. At gunpoint, the police reportedly brought the CENRO team together with members of the city’s anti-squatting office and village peacekeepers to the police station, where those apprehended were detained for several hours. Balonglong allegedly kicked and slapped the CENRO team leader.

Mangroves account for 4.4 percent of Palawan’s total area, occupying about 63,532 hectares. The province was declared a mangrove forest reserve in 1981, and the Forestry Code prohibits cutting of mangrove trees.

Environmental defenders have faced violent resistance in Palawan. In 2017, barangay official Ruben Arzaga was shot dead while on patrol. Last year, forest ranger Bienvenido Veguilla Jr. was hacked to death.

On May 21 this year, Subterranean River ranger Guillermo Celino was shot and wounded by suspected illegal loggers Fernando Mameng and his son Fernando Jr. At least in this case, the elder Mameng was taken into police custody; his son is at large. Officials should find out why the Puerto Princesa police prevented the CENRO team from carrying out its mandate. Protecting Palawan’s environment is challenging enough.