Community Environment and Natural Resources Office 2 chief, Mario Aragon, expressed confidence that the reported presence of communist rebels in the mountains of Negros Oriental will not derail their campaign to protect the forests.

CENRO 2,  which has jurisdiction over most of  the localities in the second and third districts of the province with watershed areas, said government forest guards are operating in the mountains despite reports of the presence of  New People’s Army rebels.

“We are not worried despite the reports of their presence. We continue to operate in the mountain,” Aragon said, adding that he is confident that the rebels will not harm his people.

Forest guards from CENRO 2 have never been harassed by the rebels, he said.

A forest protection personnel, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however said it is inevitable for forest guards to be concerned about their safety sometimes.

Earlier, the army and police had reported the presence of  rebels in several hinterland villages in the province, particularly in the towns of Sta. Catalina, Siaton, Zamboanguita, Dauin, Valencia and Sibulan and Amlan.*RA

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