DENR seeks NBI’s help in probe of forest ranger’s killing

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in investigating the killing of a forest ranger in Apayao province last week. Environment Secretary Ramon Paje has tapped the NBI’s assistance to solve the slay to “add more muscle" to the department’s anti-illegal logging campaign, a news release posted Friday on the DENR’s website said. Kennedy Eber Bayani, a DENR forest ranger, was gunned down on Friday last week while manning a checkpoint in the forested area of Marag Valley in Luna town, Apayao. Bayani thus became the first casualty of the DENR’s anti-illegal logging campaign under Paje, who was named environment chief by President Benigno Aquino III just two weeks before the Apayao forest ranger was killed. “This latest killing exemplifies the culture of impunity that has shrouded the DENR’s effort against illegal loggers," Paje said in the news release. "We are all deeply affected by the loss of our co-worker. However, during these sad moments, we also recognize the even greater sorrow that his family is going through," he also said. Paje has ordered his department to extend assistance to Bayani’s bereaved family. He also said that Bayani’s murder must challenge the DENR to intensify efforts to “break the backbone" of illegal logging operations in the country. Paje earlier issued a directive to put a stop to illegal logging in the country within the next month as one of his first moves as DENR chief.— Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV