Armed men harass Surigao environmental group’s head

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – At least 20 men armed with high-powered firearms swooped down on the house of a doctor-officer of an environmental group in Carmen, Surigao del Sur last Thursday night and took three licensed guns that they found.

Police said the armed men who barged into the home of Dr. Isidro Olan, 67, founding president and executive director of the Lovers of Nature Foundation, could be New People’s Army guerrillas. The military has not issued any report yet.

But non-government organizations and other environmental groups suspect that the armed men could be former and present NPA rebels tapped to protect the mining and logging interests of wealthy and politically influential personalities in the province.

Olan has been vocal against mining and logging activities in the towns of Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen and Lanuza.

Olan’s group, together with other local environmental advocates and Church officials, has been actively campaigning for a halt to mining in these municipalities, saying supposedly agricultural lands have been converted into mining areas in cahoots with unscrupulous government personnel. 

According to the Carmen police, the armed men barged into Olan’s residence in Barangay Puyat, tied him and other family members up and stuffed their mouths with pieces of cloth, and ransacked the place.

The armed men fled with an M-16 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .22-caliber revolver they found in Olan’s house.

Police said the firearms were all licensed for Olan’s protection as he had encountered a number of attempts on the life in the past.

Last Oct. 29, Olan and his wife were ambushed while on their way home.