DENR to Probe Stabbing Incident in Bicol National Park

Legazpi City (24 Sept) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will look further into the stabbing of forest ranger Crispulo Santiago by CAFGU Active Auxiliary Sismundo Aldeza in Bicol National Park (BNP), Brgy. Tuaca, Basud Camarines Norte.

Santiago was manning a DENR checkpoint at 22^nd IB CAA/Army detachment when he was attacked and stabbed by Aldeza at around 12:30 a.m., September 19, 2010. Aldeza's knife thrust hit the forest ranger's back, rendering the latter shocked but conscious.

After gaining his senses, Santiago managed to flee the detachment and sought the help of Brgy. Kagawad Zapanta who confronted the assailant that took flight in the darkness. Minutes later, other CAFGUs turned up at the local official's residence and took the forest ranger to the Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital for treatment of his wound.

Meanwhile, the detachment's commanding officer Staff Sergeant Millo turned over Aldeza to the Basud Police for inquest and filing of appropriate charges. The assailant is presently in the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology for a frustrated murder charge.

In a report to DENR Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada from Ponciano Mabeza Jr., Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) of Daet, Camarines Norte, it was gathered that rumors surrounding the involvement of some probable suspects from other government offices are coddlers of illegal logging operations at the BNP spurred the stabbing incident.

The DENR will take action to resolve the issue to prevent the worsening of the situation in the BNP.

The forest rangers performing checkpoint activities at the CAFGU/Army Detachment in Brgy. Tuaca will be re-assigned at the Basud PNP checkpoint at Poblacion, Basud, CENRO Mabeza reported. (ASA)