Lawyer Ric Lazaro, community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) for Nueva Ecija South, said that Alberto Miranda, Jr., 46, who was gunned down by riding in-tandem suspects in Barangay Zulueta this city on Monday, was “star witness” to many court cases against suspected illegal loggers at the time of his death.
“He’s been very busy attending to many court cases in the trial courts in Gapan, Palayan and Cabanatuan City,” Lazaro said, noting that Miranda was head of their utilization division which is in charge of anti-illegal logging operations.
Miranda who has served the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for over two decades was also member of the anti-illegal logging provincial task force making him part of most operations that resulted to recovery of hot lumber and vehicles, he added.
“Masigasig masyado sa trabaho, huli nang huli, siya ang nagli-lead ng operations,” Lazaro added. “Kaya yung mga isinampang cases, siya ang star witness.”
A discussion with legal division of the DENR Central Luzon office, he said, indicated that Miranda’s death would adversely affect such cases:
“Pilay ang mga kaso.” He was quick to add though that the agency will continue to work on them.
The killing also affected the morale of their operatives who conduct operations unarmed, Lazaro said.
“Para mabalik ang sigla ng opisina ay kailangang magkaroon ng justice itong pagkamatay niya,” he added. He lauded Miranda’s beyond 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. work attitude. “Halos 24/7 kahit madaling araw pa mayron silang nabalitaan na nalalabas ay nag-o-operate sila.”
Asked if court cases which need Miranda’s appearance as witness may reach the number of ten, Lazaro said “it’s more than that.”
Lyn Miranda, the victim’s wife, called on the people to join them in praying for justice and resolution of the case. She lamented that Miranda’s death came when their two children are about to finish tertiary education. Their son is set to defend thesis and is expected to graduate this year from the University of the Philippines while the second, a girl, is incoming fourth year college at SLU, both in Baguio City.
Miranda was on his way to check a seedlings nursery, on board a pick-up, in Barangay Zulueta when gunned down by two armed men at about 8 a.m. Monday, according to police report.
The killing was caught by a CCTV but Supt. Joselito Villarosa, city police chief, said the shot was too far to identify the suspects.
The suspects were wearing only bull caps. Villarosa said they continue to conduct follow up investigation to identify the suspects.
