Masungi Georeserve

2022 - 9 - 19

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Image courtesy of "GMA News Online"

Masungi Georeserve distressed over armed security allegedly ... (GMA News Online)

The Masungi Georeserve Foundation was distressed over armed security men camped along a section of the Marikina-Infanta Highway which the foundation claimed ...

But the area has been titled since the 1950s and the area is also part of the protected area. “Ang information namin diyan there was several attempts to make use of these survey ng area. “Mayroon nang mga bagong regulasyon. 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. They are liable for trespassing, unlawful occupation, and forcible entry,” Dumaliang said. 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.

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Image courtesy of "Rappler"

'An invasion': Armed men encamped near Masungi conservation site (Rappler)

Conservation site Masungi Georeserve calls the encampment an 'invasion' and urges concerned officials to 'remove the invaders'

In February 2022, seven rangers were injured after a violent mob allegedly from other resorts attacked the reserve. [Toni Yulo-Loyzaga](https://www.rappler.com/nation/environment-secretary-toni-yulo-loyzaga-wants-consultative-science-based-denr/) to “put her foot down” and evict the men threatening to encroach the area. [two forest rangers](https://www.rappler.com/nation/masungi-georeserve-rangers-shot-head-neck-july-24-2021/) were shot inside the Masungi Geopark. [confiscated](https://www.facebook.com/masungigeoreserve/posts/pfbid0wNMGdCBFVfvPgRZDFBMDLN81RDNcobRARNBbdMGDjEzvUPNCf2zHoF99H2a3v1vol) the illegal firearms carried by the security men. Calling the encampment an ‘invasion,’ the georeserve said in a statement that the men “reportedly plan to take over huge tracts of land in the protected area and are selling them to third-parties.” Purchasing and selling portions of land in protected areas is considered a crime under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area Systems Act (ENIPAS).

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Image courtesy of "ptvnews.ph"

Armed men encamp Masungi Georeserve | PTV News (ptvnews.ph)

Around 30 armed men have been encamped in the vicinity of Masungi Georeserve in Baras Rizal since last week, according to the conservation foundation.

However, based on the DENR’s initial investigation, the spot where the armed men have been encamping is not included in the protected area. The agency said it has already deployed authorities in the area. It is being conserved and reforested by our team under an agreement with [the] government,” the foundation wrote.

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Image courtesy of "ABS-CBN News"

Masungi Georeserve slams 'invasion' by armed men, seeks gov't ... (ABS-CBN News)

The Masungi Georeserve Foundation is calling on government officials to take urgent action on the presence of dozens of armed men around the conservation ...

We currently just have a security agency in the field. "The damage will only get worse. DENR should take action now," she said.

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Image courtesy of "Business Mirror"

PNP, DENR probe 'armed men' near Masungi | Jonathan L. Mayuga (Business Mirror)

PARALLEL investigations are being conducted by the Philippine National Police and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on the presence ...

Based on the DENR’s own initial investigation, however, Leones said the 30-plus alleged armed men are indeed “armed” but they are in fact security guards hired by another claimant near the area. None of them were issued by the DENR. However, he said all documents that are invalid will be set aside eventually, with the DENR thoroughly looking into the various claims over the vast tracts of land in the region.

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Image courtesy of "INQUIRER.net"

Police seize guns from group occupying Masungi Georeserve (INQUIRER.net)

Police have confiscated firearms from a group of men who had been encamped within the vicinity of the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal province for over a week ...

What’s clear here [is that] it belongs to the Republic of the Philippines, so whoever is claiming it should present a valid and authenticated document.” “Attacks against environmentalists continue with little to no protection from our government. Government must ensure protection for environmentalists and forest rangers from armed goons in their attempt to invade our protected forests,” she added. “We will raise this issue in the plenary deliberations [next Tuesday on] the budget[s] of the DENR and the DILG,” she said in a statement. France Castro criticized the “continued inaction” of the DENR and the DILG. [Department of the Interior and Local Government](https://www.dilg.gov.ph/) (DILG) to coordinate with the [Department of Environment and Natural Resources](https://denr.gov.ph/) (DENR) on this matter.

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Image courtesy of "Philstar.com"

PNP to probe Masungi Georeserve 'invasion' (Philstar.com)

The Philippine National Police will investigate an alleged attempt by an armed group to invade the Masungi conservation site in Rizal province.

He also denies knowing any of the 30 people camping along the road, although some said they are working for him. said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed the PNP to identify the group. In a statement, the Masungi Georeserve administration said a certain Maj.

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Image courtesy of "Manila Bulletin"

PNP looks into possible involvement of retired, active cops in ... (Manila Bulletin)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now checking on the possible involvement of either retired or active police officers in the land dispute at the ...

“I found it unusual that they were able to obtain perpetual ownership when it’s a protected area. Azurins said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. “We will check on the veracity of the documents and the signatures in the documents that gave individuals or groups perpetual ownership of parcels of land,” said Azurin.

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