An employee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, who was shot and wounded by a suspected illegal logger in Palawan province last Aug. 23, received the highest commendation from Secretary Roy A. Cimatu on Monday, as the country marked National Heroes Day.
Cimatu awarded Joselito Eyala, a forester at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Puerto Princesa City, the Medalya ng Bayani ng Kalikasan (Medal of Heroism for the Environment) for his “remarkable dedication to public service, bravery and leadership.”
“It is my honor to give you this award, especially during National Heroes’ Day,” Cimatu said during his visit to Eyala at the Philippine General Hospital, where the forester was awaiting surgery to remove bullets lodged in his palate and back.
“We want you to know that we are thankful for what you did, and that the DENR will take care of you,” Cimatu said. “We need people like you in the service.”
Cimatu, a former military chief, also awarded Eyala with a Purple Heart, an honor usually given to soldiers wounded in the line of duty.
He likewise commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Air Force personnel who airlifted Eyala from Palawan to Manila and brought him to the PGH on Aug. 25.
Cimatu also informed Eyala he had been promoted from Forester I to Forester II with an increase in salary grade.
The environment chief also assured Eyala that the DENR will shoulder all his hospital expenses and that he will receive financial assistance to aid him in his recovery.
Based on initial reports, the shooting incident happened when Eyala and his team apprehended suspected timber poachers and confiscated an unregistered chainsaw in the mountainous village of Bacungan at around 5 pm on August 23.
The owner of the chainsaw, Florante Saycon, retaliated by firing a homemade gun that hit Eyala in the back. The forester sustained two gunshot wounds that rendered him unconscious.
When he regained consciousness, Eyala crawled into the Casicaan River and allowed the current to carry him for five hours. He then walked and crawled in the middle of the night until he managed to get help at around 1 a.m. of the following day.
A farmer brought Eyala on a carabao sled to barangay councilor Daniel Anjan, who then took him to the Palawan Adventist Hospital.
Eyala’s three other companions, forest ranger Roldan Alvarez and forest technicians Roy Mercader and Glenn Dexter Eleazar, scampered for safety as Saycon chased them.
Mercader hid in the river for seven hours, while Alvarez and Eleazar sought cover in the bush the whole night. They were found at the Bacungan barangay hall at around 8 am on August 24.
Meanwhile, DENR Mimaropa regional director Natividad Bernardino said Eyala’s promotion takes effect immediately.
“This is the least we can do to express our appreciation to Lito (Eyala’s nickname) for his commitment to live up to his duty as a protector of the forest and our environment,” Bernardino said.
Eyala, who was still having difficulty speaking, appeared overwhelmed and almost teary-eyed when he gave a thumbs-up sign.
Bernardino said that due recognition will also be given to other members of Eyala’s team.
The DENR is now preparing to file criminal charges against Saycon, who is now under the custody of the Philippine National Police in Puerto Princesa City after he was arrested during a follow-up operation on August 24.
Cimatu wanted the CENRO to charge Saycon with violation of Republic Act No. 9175 or the Chainsaw Act of 2002 and other forestry laws, aside from the attempted murder or homicide to be filed by Eyala.