“They are pretending to be farmers despite clearly operating resorts on the ground,” Ann Dumaliang, Trustee of Masungi Georeserve Foundation, told CNN Philippines on Sunday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) — Masungi Georeserve has denied the claim of those allegedly involved in a mobbing incident last week which wounded forest rangers that they are farmers, saying they are actually workers of illegal resorts and land-grabbers in the area.
This investigation is part of a series on environmental crime in Asia, supported by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the Henry Nxumalo Foundation and Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism.
Masungi Georeserve is a conservation project located in Baras, Rizal that aims to protect the biodiversity in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape.
“These land-grabbers and illegal resorts owners are spreading disinformation and agitating the people against us to protect their own interest. That we are removing small farmers and households from the protected area is a complete lie,” Dumaliang added.
She noted that “resort owners arrived in the areas and are claiming only recently.”
Dumaliang explained that there are three “illegal” resorts in the area, with Olitoquit operating since 2017, and Lihim na Batis and Erin’s Place Resort operating since 2018.
She also said they believe that true forest-dependent communities—the landless, and those who have genuine tenure—must be empowered and protected.
“But big time and capable businesses, as well as landgrabbers, have no right to appropriate benefits reserved for forest-dependent communities, the landless, and those who have genuine tenure, ” she added.
On Friday, at least six unarmed Masungi forest rangers were attacked by about 30 individuals, with two rangers ending up hospitalized.
Dumaliang said the police responded to the incident but there were too many perpetrators to initiate arrests.
She also dismissed statements made by the alleged landgrabbers that the protected area where locals reside, and where “illegal” businesses operate, are alienated and disposable land based on Presidential Decree 324.
PD 324, which was issued in 1973, was lifted in 1977 reverting the area back to protected land and wildlife reserve status, Dumaliang said. explained.
“We respect genuine free patents given during this period and rightful beneficiary would have documents to show. However, these resorts only entered in recent time. Sale of these lands without documents to show more than three decades after PD 324 was lifted is ridiculous,” Dumaliang discussed.
She also explained illegal operations and business activities inside the protected area are prohibited as these could harm the biodiversity and destroy the environment.
The Environment Department issued a Cease-and-Desist Order last July 2021 to illegal infrastructures in the area, disallowing businesses to operate, including Erin’s Place Resort. However, the resort reportedly remains open to visitors and tourists.
The Environment Department said any construction or infrastructure within the protected area without permission is prohibited based on Section 20 of R.A 7586 or National Integrated Protected Areas System Act and R.A 11038 or Expanded NIPAS Act. Violators will be charged with up to five million pesos and subject for imprisonment of up to 12 years.
Based on Global Witness Report in 2019, the Philippines is the second most dangerous place for environmental defenders.
CNN Philippines has reached out to the local police and the resorts mentioned for comment but they have yet to respond.
