DENR personnel want justice for slain co-worker

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Personnel of the Mount Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP) in Negros Occidental are seeking justice for their co-worker, Mat Sarcino, who was killed by still unidentified persons in what they believed was work-related.

Sarcino, a utility personnel of the MKNP, which is under the DENR, was shot on the forehead last Oct. 29 while he was preparing food with other park rangers at the makeshift kitchen at the MKNP administration compound, police records show. He eventually died in the hospital on Nov. 2.

MKNP superintendent Cecil Cañada said they believed that the killing of Sarcino was work-related, narrating that, prior to the shooting, their office had been very active in the campaign against illegal activities inside the park.

Cañada disclosed that the campaign was implemented inside the MKNP, particularly in the hot spot areas in Barangay Codcod of San Carlos City; Barangay Minoyan of Murcia town, and Barangays Sag-ang, Mansalanao, Cabagna-an, Biak na Bato and Masulog, all of La Castellana town. —(FREEMAN)