DENR: Killings of forest protection officers in Surigao Sur alarming

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday expressed alarm over the killings of forest protection officers in Surigao del Sur over the past months. In a statement, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje condemned the killing of forest protection officer Rolando Sinday in Lianga town last Monday, calling it an "obvious attempt" by illegal loggers to get back at the government for its anti-illegal logging campaign. "This, like other killings that took place before, is making a mockery of the rule of law, and further entrench the existing culture of impunity that has defined illegal logging activities in the province," Paje said. Sinday, a DENR employee, died on the spot last Monday after he was shot thrice by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen while on his way home to Barangay Aniobongan . Sinday’s killing came a little over a month after another DENR anti-logging operative, Nelson Luna, was gunned down in the same province. The DENR had tagged Surigao del Sur as a "hot spot" area for illegal logging activities. The department has launched a campaign called "Oplan Kalasangan" in the province to run after persons involved in illegal logging in the area. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMANews.TV