HINIKAYAT ng environmental activist group na Kalikasan PNE, sa House of Representatives na magpulong para imbestigahan ang pag-atake laban sa forest rangers sa Masungi Georeserve.
“The violence against environmental defenders like Masungi’s brave rangers have quadrupled during this first month of the elections. We urge Congress to exercise oversight over the situation by acting on the House Resolution filed by Bayan Muna to investigate the situation in Masungi,” ani Leon Dulce, ang national coordinator ng Kalikasan PNE.
Noong Martes, ang Masungi Rangers ay ibinahagi sa Facebook post ang anila’y ang pangha-harass na nangyari noong Marso 5.
“A woman park ranger was harassed, and her cousin punched in the gut by the same person who led the recent mauling of rangers,” pahayag ng grupo.
Ayon sa House Resolution no. 2499 na inihain noong Marso 2 nina Bayan Muna Party-list Representatives Carlos Zarate, isang human rights lawyer, at Eufemia Cullamat, isang indigenous Lumad legislator, hiniling nila na imbestigahan ang kakulangan ng aksyon ng pulisya, local public authorities, at ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources sa nasabing insidente.
Sa data na inilabas ng Kalikasan PNE kamakailan, nakapagtala ng 350% pagtaas sa insidente ng paglabag sa karapatan ng environmental defenders mula Enero hanggang Pebrero 2022.
Ito ay nagresulta sa 483% na pagsipa sa bilang ng affected defenders sa parehong panahon.
“Congress should not sit idly while the protectors of one of the country’s world-renowned, climate-critical watershed conservation areas face worsening attacks from land grabbers. We need an urgent intervention at the policy level because the regulatory and enforcement bodies have failed with impunity,” banggit pa ni Dulce. (JOEL O. AMONGO)
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