Environmental group leader dies in ambush

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A leader of an environmental group was killed, while one of his companions was wounded, during an ambush by unidentified armed men at Hacienda Sta. Ana in Barangay San Isidro of EB Magalona town, Negros Occidental, last Sunday afternoon.

Police identified the fatality as 39-year-old Nelbert Esguiran, president of the United Canlusong Upland Reforestation and Development, a group under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, advocating for reforestation in the area.

Esguiran’s companion, 58-year-old Morly Isidro, sustained a gunshot wound on his right arm.

Senior Inspector Mark Anthony Karanaig, acting chief of the EB Magalona Police, said the victims, along with their six companions, were riding a vehicle on their way home to Barangay Canlusong when they were waylaid by still unidentified assailants at around 5 p.m.

Karanaig said the seven armed men, who were wearing black sweatshirts and bonnets, targeted Esguiran.

Esguiran, who was already wounded at the first attack, tried to escape from the suspects but they chased him down and finished him off with more shots at him.

The victim sustained 10 gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body and died on the spot, Karanaig said, adding that the assailants fled after the incident and still remained at large, as of this writing.

Recovered from the crime scene were three slugs and an empty shell of a .45-caliber bullet, an empty shell and a deformed slug of an unknown firearm.

Karanaig said the police have yet to establish the motive of the incident, although the intention of the suspects was to kill the environmental group leader.

Hot pursuit operation against the suspects are now going on, he added.  (FREEMAN)