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Park Ranger Emeterio M. Quarre critically wounded and rushed to hospital in Sibuyan Island, Romblon (Photo credit: Park Ranger Martin Riñon)

An employee of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Romblon was critically wounded after a group of illegal loggers hacked him with a bolo upon operation against illegal logging activities in Sibuyan Island Romblon.

According to PENR Officer Maximo C. Landrito, the incident occurred on February 20, 2022, around 6:40-7:30 in the morning during patrol and surveillance in Sitio Cross Country, Barangay España, San Fernando.  

The untoward incident happened during the 26th commemoration of Mt. Guiting-Guiting Proclamation Anniversary. The victim was identified as Park Ranger (Job Order) Emeterio M. Quarre, 52 years old, married, and resident of Tampayan, Magdiwang, Romblon. On the said incident, the victim and other enforcers, namely Park Rangers Martin Riñon and Ronald Dangoy, agreed to separate to quickly apprehend the illegal loggers and the chainsaw in the said place.

Based on the report, the victim was assaulted and seriously hacked by Mr. Felix "Pelis" Romer, the chainsaw operator. After responding to the victim, the suspects quickly fled the area.

Meanwhile, his companions immediately rushed Quarre to San Fernando Municipal Health Clinic, then to Sibuyan District Hospital (SDH) in Cajidiocan for blood transfusion.

Romblon Governor Jose Ruado Riano, an active member of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), assisted the victim by arranging immediate patient transport services through a rescue boat bringing Quarre from SDH to Romblon District Hospital (RDH) in Romblon, Romblon, to examine his condition further.

From RDH, he was then referred by the attending physician to be transferred to Rizal Memorial Medical Center in Pasig City for medical operation and treatment.

The suspect, Mr. Felix Romero, is already facing a criminal complaint about Frustrated Murder before the Provincial Prosecutor Office in Romblon, Romblon.

Mt. Guiting-Guiting is the highest mountain in the province of Romblon, located at Sibuyan Island. It is also known as the "Densest Forest in the Philippines" and a biodiversity haven. The entire island has been compared numerous times with the biodiversity endemism rate of the Galapagos Islands.###