THE management of the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal has sought the assistance of government agencies amid the alleged harassment and land-grabbing attempts of a private company.
In its Facebook page on Saturday night, the Masungi Georeserve urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Interior and Local Government and the PNP “to take immediate action to enforce the laws and mandates they are sworn to uphold, stop this ongoing invasion, and remove the invaders.”
“This is a critical area for the wildlife sanctuary and the consequences of losing this area once again will set back forest protection and be a huge injustice to Filipinos. Sinagtala and their dubious associates should leave the premises once and for all,” it added.
The management was referring to the Sinagtala security agency, which it said had dispatched security guards to gather and camp outside of the reserved area since last week.
“They reportedly plan to take over huge tracts of land in the protected area and are selling them to third-parties. Let’s be clear: This is an invasion,” Masungi said.
The social media post alleged that some 30 security guards have encamped outside the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal.
But Calabarzon regional police office spokeswoman Lt. Col. Eunice de Guzman said the reported security guards were no longer in the area as of yesterday afternoon.
Masungi said Sinagtala claims it has a survey plan under the name of one Beatriz Sonquipal that was reportedly signed by DENR regional office in the early 2000s.
It said that, “obviously, a mere survey plan is not a proof of ownership.”
Masungi said a certain Major Laino or Major Layno from Mindanao, who was supposedly with the group of security guards, had said that he has a title for the property and has been in the area since 2010.
“When asked to show this title, he failed to show anything. He also denies knowing any of the 30 people on the illegal encampment despite some of them saying that they are working for him. He claims to be a retired military official,” Masungi said.
“For the record, the hired security men all also refuse to disclose any details such as their names and contact details so that we might check the legitimacy of their claims and arrangements,” added Masungi.
Masungi said the security guards would not obstruct the verification process and withhold basic information “if this is not a shady business.”
It insisted that the area is “legally titled” to the government since the 1950s. “It is being conserved and reforested by our team under an agreement with government,” it said.
De Guzman said the PNP regional police office received information about the Masungi complaint yesterday morning, with the number of security men encamping outside the gates allegedly even reaching 70.
De Guzman said the Rizal provincial official sent men to the area after initially receiving the information at around 10:30 a.m. yesterday and saw no security guards in the area. Another team was dispatched to check the vicinity at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
“They (Rizal provincial police office) reported there are no security guards (in that area). They already checked the area, both Army and PNP. They didn’t see any (security guard),” she said.
