Palawan loggers hack forest ranger to death

A forest ranger in El Nido, Palawan died Thursday after being hacked to death by a group of unidentified illegal loggers.

The victim was identified as Bienvinido “Toto” Veguilla, Jr., a forest ranger of El Nido’s Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

Authorities said Veguilla and his team were patrolling the area of Sitio Kinawagan in Barangay Pasadeña when they encountered the illegal loggers and confiscated their chainsaw.

The group ran after Veguilla and hacked him on the back and on the head.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) MIMAROPA regional executive director Henry Adornado condemned the tragedy and said they will work closely with the police to arrest Veguilla’s killers.

He also renewed his call to the government to pass a measure that would arm and protect DENR forest rangers from illegal loggers.