Masungi Georeserve distressed over armed security allegedly camped at nature reserve

The Masungi Georeserve Foundation was distressed over armed security men camped along a section of the Marikina-Infanta Highway which the foundation claimed was in the Baras, Rizal portion of the nature reserve.

In Maki Pulido's Monday 24 Oras report, the foundation said the private security personnel intended to occupy parts of the Kaliwa and Marikina Watershed.

They were also told that the security men were there to protect the interests of the people who had purchased the property.

“The intention really is to occupy the area by threat, force, and intimidation,” said Masungi Georeserve Trustee Ann Dumaliang.

The property that was being occupied at the Kaliwa and Marikina Watershed was allegedly legally titled to the Republic of the Philippines and declared a forest reserve under Presidential Proclamation 573.

The land was said to be included in the 2,700 hectares that were being protected by the Masungi Georeserve Foundation along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) based on a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed in 2017.

Under the agreement, the DENR has the authority to evict illegal occupants and to cancel illegal documents that claim a right to occupy the land.

According to Dumaliang, placing armed men at a location was a well-known method of seizing property.

She added that private security men first occupy a property, they then recruit people to stay in the area until it becomes difficult to evict them.

The foundation urged the DENR and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to take immediate action on the matter.

“’Yung survey plan na pinapakita nila, it was issued in 2003. But the area has been titled since the 1950s and the area is also part of the protected area. They are liable for trespassing, unlawful occupation, and forcible entry,” Dumaliang said.

DENR

But based on the initial evaluation of the DENR, the property was outside the protected conservation site.

DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones however clarified that the holder of a land survey did not automatically have a legal basis to claim the land.

“Ang information namin diyan there was several attempts to make use of these survey ng area. Pero several time nang ni-reject ng ating regional office because hindi pa naman ni-recognize pa ng DENR,” Leones said.

While the DENR acknowledged the assistance of the Masungi Georeserve in protecting the conservation site, Leones said that the MOA between the DENR and the foundation needed to be reviewed and revised.

Masungi personnel

Masungi Georeserve personnel safeguarding the nature reserve had previously found themselves in dangerous situations.

In February 2021, two forest rangers were assaulted in the Baras, Rizal area close to where several resorts were built.

Two other forest rangers had also been shot.

An incident report also said that an improvised explosive device had been planted along an area used by forest rangers.

“Mayroon nang mga bagong regulasyon. May mga batas na tayo kailangan natin i-amend yung mga provision ng MOA base doon sa existing condition ng area,” Leones said, adding that they are taking action against illegal occupants and structures inside the protected reserve.

PNP

Monday afternoon, police officers went to the Marikina-Infanta Highway area that was being occupied and seized several firearms.

But the Masungi Georeserve said no one had been arrested.

The Philippine National Police explained that there was a land dispute between Masungi and the claimants of the property.

They also confirmed that there were six security guards from the Sinag Tala Security Service encamped in the area.

GMA News had sought comment from Sinag Tala Security Service regarding the matter.

GMA News also went to the office of Sinag Tala Security Service but no one was there. — Mel Matthew Doctor/DVM, GMA News