Armed group ‘occupies’ land in Masungi Georeserve

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) Developers of the Masungi Georeserve nature park in Rizal claimed armed men occupied a portion of the conservation area on Sunday, April 3, allegedly with the connivance of the military and the local police.

Armed men arrived at Lot 10 at 7:00 am and began to destroy the perimeter fence, while soldiers watched on the side, Masungi Georeserve advocacy specialist Billie Dumaliang told Rappler. 

Park rangers from Blue Star Construction and Development Corporation (BSCDC) – the developer of Masungi Georeserve park – tried to defend the area but were shooed away and fired at, according to Dumaliang.

Soldiers of the 80^th Infantry Battalion, led by Lt Col Randolph Cabangbang, rounded-up rangers after accusing them of firing at the military. The park rangers were later released after a dialogue between the military and BSCDC and no formal arrests were made.

Cabangbang told Rappler that the military was in the area upon the request of the barangay for security assistance as an unidentified group wanted to take down the fence built by BSCDC in Lot 10. 

The military claims it recovered two shot guns at the scene but have yet to determine the owners of the guns. 

He added that the military wanted to ensure the peace between two groups who are fighting each other over the disputed land.  

“Wala kong pakialam diyan eh. Ang paki-alam ko they were shooting at each other,” said Cabangbang. (I don’t know anything about it. What I know is that there were shooting at each other.) 

Cabanbang added that the rangers were a “private armed group” of BSCDC with highpowered firearms. BSCDC denied these claims saying park rangers do not carry arms.  

Land claims

A video reportedly taken by one of the rangers at the scene and uploaded to YouTube by the Save Masungi Movement shows a group of men milling around a highway followed by sounds of rapid gunfire.

Subsequent video taken by the Save Masungi Movement shows a confrontation between BSCDC lawyers and the unidentified group led by lawyer Diego Palomares, who claims he is representing the indigenous Dumagat peoples who ‘own’ the land.

 

BSCDC lawyer Stephen Cascolan questioned Palomares’ claim.

“Wala silang dalang Dumagat, puro luxury vehicles. Ang conclusion namin talaga, mga professional land grabbers,” said Cascolan. (They brought luxury vehicles, not Dumagat people. We conclude they are professional land grabbers.)

“They do not have a title to that land. If they can show a title, then the discussion will be over,” said Dumaliang.

Palomares was also present in a previous incident involving the same disputed land last March 6, where a group composed of hired security guards occupied Lot 10 for 3 days. Palomares, a one-time vice presidential candidate, claimed that he had the authority to enter the lot from Tanay Mayor Rafael Tanjuatco, according to a statement issued by the Masungi Georeserve.

Rappler contacted the Mayor’s office through Municipal Administrator Dr Gabriel Piguing, but has yet to receive a response as of this posting. Attempts were also made to contact Mr. Palomares. 

Conflict of interest

The Masungi Georeserve is a 1,600-hectare public land locally declared as a conservation area. About 20% or 300 hectares of the land is managed by BSCDC as part of a joint venture with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It contains a housing development and a popular eco-tourism park featuring natural karst rock formations.  

The Tanay Municipal Government claims BSCDC has violated the law in operating the Masungi Georeserve, particularly when it installed perimeter fencing without a permit. BSCDC denied this allegation and said it had secured the necessary permits. It has also filed cases before the Ombudsman against Tanay officials over the first intrusion. 

Dumaliang is calling on officials from DENR, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the military to investigate the attempted “land grab” and address the issue peacefully.

“If the police and the DENR do not act, then there will be continuing threats of violence on the people on the ground and to the environment,” Dumaliang said, adding that “instead of helping protect a conservation area, which we have protected for 20 years, they are serving the interests of land grabbers.” – Rappler.com