Around 30 armed men have been encamped in the vicinity of Masungi Georeserve in Tanay, Rizal since September 3, according to the conservation foundation.
In a post on Facebook, photos showed vehicles parked along Marikina-Infanta Highway. Masungi Georeserve said the armed men were from Sinagtala Security Agency.
Calling the encampment an ‘invasion,’ the georeserve said in a statement that the men “reportedly plan to take over huge tracts of land in the protected area and are selling them to third-parties.”
Purchasing and selling portions of land in protected areas is considered a crime under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area Systems Act (Enipas).
A person claiming to be a retired military official is with the group of security men, saying he owns land but failed to show a title.
Two weeks since they encamped, the armed men are still allowed to squat in the area.
Masungi managing trustee Ann Dumaliang told Rappler
Guns seized from Masungi Georeserve invaders
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Guns seized from Masungi Georeserve invaders
philstar.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from philstar.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.