Leonardo L. Co, 56, one of the country’s top botanist ,who was serving as biodiversity consultant of Lopez-owned Energy Development Corp. (EDC), was killed together with his two companions Nov 15 while gathering specimen seedlings of endangered trees with a five-member team of civilians in Kananga, Leyte.
Manuel Paete, EDC resident manager identified identified the other fatalities as Sofronio G. Cortez, a forest guard day of EDC-Environmental Management Division, and Julius Borromeo, a member of the Tongonan Farmers Association (Tofa).
Co is a specialist in plant taxonomy and ethnobotany.
Early reports said Co’s team was caught in a cross fire. Later reports said there was no cross fire and that they were mistaken as NPA’s
Slain botanist heard begging for mercy: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20101119-304043/Slain-botanist-heard-begging-for-mercy
His remains lie at the Funeraria Paz on Araneta Avenue. It will be brought to UP this afternoon for the wake until Sunday.
Following is Business Mirror’s editorial last Nov. 17 which encapsulates our sentiments:
Thanks, Professor Co
It’s hard to find words to capture the sense of loss of the Philippine science community, not only for themselves but for the future of this country, at the untimely, tragic demise of University of the Philippines botany professor Leonardo Co, in an unfortunate crossfire between soldiers and rebels in Leyte this week. Indeed, as some reports go, the military unit that might have (the shooting-by-friendly-fire angle is still being investigated) snuffed out his life was filled with deep remorse on knowing the encounter had claimed an innocent life—and what a life it was.
It’s no exaggeration to say—as one of his most ardent followers (a former student who, like many others, were so inspired by the life’s work of Professor Co and his passion to conserve Philippine biodiversity that they’re doing their own share years after graduation) put it to the BusinessMirror—that his death would deal a heavy blow to the Philippine conservation movement.
Indeed, up until his death, Co was busy—carrying his usual bag where he and the botanists he trained would usually stash the plants they come across, as they roam rain forests, whether in Palanan, Isabela, where much of his conservation work of the past decade had focused, or in places like Leyte, where he and his team’s services were needed by entities like the Energy Development Corp. (EDC). According to the GMA 7 web site, Professor Co was “searching for tree species suitable for a forest-restoration project” when he and the forest guards with him unwittingly stumbled into an area in Upper Mahiao, barangay Lim-ao, Kananga town in Leyte province, where the soldiers had encountered New People’s Army rebels.
“Leonard was one of the country’s greatest plant taxonomists. His opinion on taxonomic issues was sought after by experts,” the GMA 7 story quoted wildlife biologist Dr. Perry Ong, Co’s friend and colleague, as saying. “His encyclopedic memory of plants was unequaled. You could ask him the name of a plant, and he would tell you its relationship with other plants and give you the reference. A great loss to the country and to the conservation community.”
The last remark is an understatement. Nearly a decade ago, alarmed by field reports that one of the country’s last frontiers in biodiversity, a treasure- trove of plant life with immense implications for the country’s environmental future and economic life, was under threat as loggers were closing in on it atop the mountains of Palanan in Isabela province, Professor Co tapped into his wide network in academe, funding agencies (at one time a World Bank affiliate gave it a grant) and his army of students and followers, to focus, not just on saving that precious circle of life, but to inventory and tag plant species for future generations. Through the years, his UP students, so inspired by his work, would keep coming back to the country each year to revisit the project and ensure it is sustained. Since many of them were bright students, several had gotten MA and PhD scholarships in top universities abroad; and yet, in the summer break, they would somehow find even modest grants, from institutions like the Smithsonian, just to be able to come back and work on the Palanan project just for a few weeks.
It is said that a man’s true measure of greatness is not just in what he himself has done, but in how well he has inspired, or caused others, to rise above their own ordinary selves and do acts of greatness. In this light one sees the great life and work of Leonardo Co. On the Facebook page (“Leonardo L. Co: In Honor and Memory”) put up by colleagues and former students, one young woman said, “Life will never be the same without the light of your wisdom and guidance. But you live on to inspire and challenge the lives you have touched.”
That he was president of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, was a multiawarded scientist recognized both here and abroad, had authored numerous researches and studies, and consulted with countless private and government entities like the EDC—these are all remarkable footnotes in the remarkable life of a most amazing man. But they are not just what he was about: his legacy will always be that he helped future generations of Filipinos be acquainted with and preserve what may well be their one true wealth, the very fabric of life on which society depends. Just last month, as that now-iconic Facebook photo shows, the good professor was still checking on some plants in a nursery in that Palanan rain forest, just before Supertyphoon Juan devastated Isabela. As a fitting tribute—and, we heard, following his wishes—part of his ashes will be scattered over his beloved Palanan.
To those who rebuke Filipinos for idolizing “only boxers” like Manny Pacquiao, the life of Leonard Co is a reminder that there are others as great: and because he took the trouble to inspire future scientists like him, we may at least derive some hope in tragedy, that there will be others who will follow in his footsteps.
Ito ang sayang na sayang.
Another precious life snuffed out by these useless pseudo-ideologic conflicts. What’s worse, nobody seems to want to seriously end it.
Filipino scientists should be declared endangered species.
Why not shoot incompetent officials. There is an abundance of them.
#3, NFA rice
WOW, i like your comment…di ka na ngayon NFA rice kundi Basmati rice from India…one of the best and delicious bigas na natsibog ko…hehehe!
Korek, dapat yong incompetent officials…lahatin na natin sila? Sila ang pahirap sa ating bansa, tisod sa pag-unlad at pagbabago ng lipunan.
Thanks indeed Prof Co. Your contribution will hopefully be admired by your colleagues and the next generation.
It is not easy to shoot down the incompetent officials, they have private armies. Dyan lang sila competent, hoodlums in position. Kaya nga ako pabor ako sa dismantling of these private armies para mabuwag na ang mga salot sa lipunan. But even Pnoy is not in favor of complete dismatling these private armies. I wonder why…some sacred cows again?
Sana, when these dedicated scientists go into a site, they should be protected by our armed men. Mapanganib ang susuong sa mga NPA infested area.
Tongue, communism is already gone. Communist Russia was already dismantled, but the traces of communism still prevail, very high unemployment(nasanay sila ng government subsidies)over 30% in some countries, rundown infrastructures including public transport(kakarag-karag, mabuti na lang yung mga architectural buildings nila were so elegantly and structurally well built kaya magaganda pa rin and mga ito) and coping up with the new democratic system for them is not easy for the local folks. China has not changed its stand but it is like saying I am a “communist” but I love democracy. Yung leader nga ng NPA sa atin nila eh nagpapasarap sa Netherlands. These so called NPAs now simply want to sow fear and make money from local folks who enter their territories. Nagiging delihensiya gang. Only when the economic conditions in the poor localities are improved will this NPA problem stop, education, jobs, infrastructures etc… Malayo pa tayo.
In the case of Prof Co, siya at ang mga kasama niya ang napagkamalang NPA. If their presence in the forest was relayed to the military, this would not have happened. Agriculturist and scientists like Prof Co who are always out in the field wear hats, carry gadgets which may look like guns kaya siguro napagkamalang NPA.
I know. Kaya nga pseudo-ideologues ang tawag ko sa mga yan. Matagal na yang gyera-gyerahan laban sa mga NPA at sa mga Muslim. May gusto bang tumapos?
Pag napatunayang military ang nakapatay sa grupo nya dahil napagkamalang NPA, irelieve ang military commander doon sa area at kasuhan ang mga tauhang nakapatay. It’s as simple as that. Di naman murder yan but homicide. Nagkamali sila eh. Own up and face the music.
Yung sa Mindanao, habang gusto pa rin ng ibang bansang angkinin dahil sa resources niya at dahil gusto nila talagang gawing rason sa pag-tira sa ating bansa (to protect their interests, economic and military) hindi matatapos yang giyera giyerahan na yan. Yang presence din na yan ang pinagmumulan ng sobrang corruption sa mataas na hanay ng AFP in the guise of modernization kuno. Yun pala eh modernization ng kanilang mala-palasyong mga bahay at bahay ng mga kabit nila. Yung sinasabing AID sa military natin ay mawawala kung may PEACE sa Mindanao. Mawawalan ng delihensiya ang mga corrupt!
Ang kawawa sa Mindanao ay ang mga nakatira doon. They become nomads. They cannot have a normal life. Ang mga anak nila hindi na nakakapag-aral. Ang resulta, itong mga ito ang mga nagiging bandido. Walang alam sa buhay eh. They just affiliate with the terrorist groups, buhay na sila. Ito namang mga local officials, take advantage of the situation. Itong mga bandidong ito ang ginagamit nilang “hitmen” and private armies para patumbahin ang mga kaaway nila sa politika o business. Di ba ganyan ang mga Ampatuans?
Sana nga Henry, those who accidentally shot the professor will own up to it. But because of our rotten system, baka na naman parang wala lang nangyari. With de Lima as the DOJ secretary, may pagasa tayo but this becomes a military case kung sundalo ang involved. Kulang sa training lang siguro and communication or simply lapse in judgement.
PSB:
Kahit mistaken identity pa yan is of no moment. Homicide pa rin yan. Dapat managot ang nagkasala. The earlier the case is filed in court, the better for the image of the AFP.
At a maximum distance of 100 yards, and even without the aid of a binocular, the soldiers surely can see if the “supposed NPA’s” were carrying weapons; which in this scenario, there were none. To me, it’s more of the case of some trigger happy soldiers. Their leader who gave the orders should be held liable.
What a horrible way to die.
In the next thread, Ellen wrote this:
This is new. Can you elaborate on this?
The information we got is quite reliable but it has to be corroborated. A thorough investigation should be able to address that issue.
From Barry:
What happened to Prof. Leonardo L.Co is purely neglect on the part of the military. In the first place they were not armed. That makes you think what are their rules of engagement. They should go back to barracks and train again, or are they becoming paranoid?
I don’t know the professor at all but he sure is a loss. I need not say more.
So what’s the use of complaining about negative travel advisories when things like these happen? Do they expect the investors and eco-tourists who are invited to visit especially the fringes of the Metros to pour in, to do some site inspections or simple mountain treks, when danger lurks in every nook and cranny?
Oh well, Pilipinas Kay Gandah!
TT:
Tumpak! All the more na madaliin ang imbestigasyon at kasuhan na ang dapat kasuhan. No less than the CS, AFP should see to it that justice be served doon sa pagkamatay ni Co. Pasensyahan na lang doon sa nagkamali. Ang mali ay mali ay mali. No compromise ako diyan.
@TonGuE-tWisTeD, #19,
There were travel warnings against a few European countries too and for that reason I don’t get Aquino’s spew. I only understood the spew when I realized that he did not have an agenda at APEC.
henry,
lahat naman tayo umaasa na maaayos ang mga ganitong problema, kaya lang mukhang dumating tayo sa puntong kailangan pang may mag-rebelde sa hanay ng mga sundalo bago seryosohin ang kagustuhang pagbabago. Pag bumaligtad, hero na ang turing. Pangarap kong mabalik sa dating kagawian nung mga musmos pa tayo na iginagalang ang sinumang naka-uniporme, sinasaluduhan at nirerespeto, hindi yung kinatatakutan o iniiwasan.
Dalawa ang anak kong lalaking pangarap magsundalo, daig ako ng pareho sa pagkilala ng mga armas, eroplano, tangke o anumang bagay na may kinalaman sa militar pero, kinakatakot kong hindi ko yata sila mapapayagan sa pangarap nila.
‘Sensya na, medyo seryoso yata ako ngayon, haha.
I have always been an advocate of proper utilization of our God-given riches via responsible mining, sustainable eco-tourism, and indigenous people-friendly economic activities that are niches in which our country has sufficient resources which don’t need much local financial participation, and it would generate the much-needed jobs in the countrysides.
Sweep them mountains clean of all the rebels, so we can focus on the business. It’s these hiccups that sets us back behind our neighbors.
kalulungkot naman…I get the impression that there are some in the military who are trigger happy kaya hala bira at hindi inusisa kung sino ang gina birahan nila…