TUGUEGARAO CITY, Jan. 4 (PIA) – Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio has urged law enforcers to strictly implement forest laws and help protect environment officials in enforcing the laws.

Ignacio visited the region to assess the murder case of Maddela and Nagtipunan, Quirino Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Alfredo Almueda, who was shot dead by unknown armed men last January 1 while conducting check-point.

He said the environment officials, police and armies should always in group in the conduct of check-points as well as in going after illegal loggers and illegal miners.

“We need the help of the law enforcers in the strict implementation of the environment laws for the protection not only of the forest but also our environment officials because we are not armed,” Ignacio said.

As we are very eager in the protection of the environment, we continuously experience brutal killing of our personnel, Ignacio added.

He reported that, from 2010 to January of 2013, there were already 25 DENR personnel killed while performing their job aside from the hundreds of those who met accident while in work.

Last year, Melania Dirain, forest specialist of Sanchez Mira, Cagayan was shot dead in her office and up to now the case is still unresolved. Ignacio prays that the Almueda case will be resolved immediately as promised by the police.