Philippine Online Chronicles (thepoc.net)
17 November 2010 04:40 PM Joel Ferreras
A crossfire between the army and a communist rebel group killed one of the country's leading botanical experts, along with his two other companions Monday.
Leonardo Co, a botanist and president of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, reportedly died in Upper Mahiao, Barangay Lim-ao, Kananga town in Leyte province while doing research work for the Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
Co, a specialist in plant taxonomy and ethnobotany, is serving as a biodiversity consultant for the firm.
EDC resident manager Manuel Paete identified the other fatalities as Sofronio Cortez, a forest guard for the EDC-Environmental Management Division, and Julius Borromeo, a member of the Tongonan Farmers Association (Tofa).
Government troops and some members of the New People's Army (NPA) reportedly had a crossfire in the area while Co was searching for tree species suitable for a forest restoration project.
Army remorseful
Inquirer reported that the army soldiers belonging to the 19th Infantry Batallion (IB) had encountered unidentified men in Barangay Lim-ao. Police officials are investigating if the bullets that killed Co and his companions came from the firearms used by soldiers.
“It was a legitimate military operation. But we are very, very remorseful over what happened,” the report quoted Lt. Col. Federico Tutaan, commanding officer of the batallion.
He said that his men were in the area to respond to a report of the EDC about the presence of NPA rebels in Lim-ao. “It was just too unfortunate that our men, the NPA rebels and the civilians were in the same place at the same time,” he reportedly said.
Co's family expressed their desire to know what really happened. Darwin Flores, Co's brother-in-law, reportedly said that Co and his companions were given clearance to proceed to the area.
“Definitely, we would like to know if there were lapses. And if there were lapses in the security protocol, those who were responsible should answer for it,” Flores said to the Inquirer.
Two others reportedly survived the incident. Policarpio Balute, a member of Tofa, and Roniño Gibe, a contractual employee of EDC, was accompanying Co together with Cortez and Borromeo.
Helpful to communities
In the Cordilleras, Leonardo Co is reportedly known for his works in helping communities systematize the knowledge of traditional healers about medicinal plants.
He had helped listing 122 medicinal plants in the region with their scientific and common names. Each entry was reportedly included with the plant's habitat, distribution, parts utilized, indications, directions for use, dosage, and precautionary notes on toxicity and contra-indications, Inquirer said.
In 1989, Co collaborated with the Baguio-based Community Health, Education, Services and Training in Cordillera Region (Chestcore) to publish the book “Common Medicinal Plants in the Cordillera Region: A Trainor's Manual for Community-based Health Programs.” The book reportedly aimed to help communities tap their traditional medicinal plants to treat some common diseases without relying too much on prescription drugs, which are not readily available.
He also reportedly authored “The Forest Trees of Palanan, Philippines: A Study in Population Ecology.”
In May 2008, Co had discovered a rare species of the Rafflesia or 'corpse' flower in Lal-lo town, Cagayan province. It was named Rafflesia leonardi.
A loss to the country
The scientific community have expressed their loss over the demise of Co, whose contributions to the field of taxonomy was said to be sought after by experts.
GMA News reported that wildlife biologist Dr. Perry Ong, Co's friend and colleague, said that Co was one of the country's greatest plant taxonomists.
“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,” he reportedly said.
The Inquirer reports that Co, aside from having had served as president of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, became a museum researcher at the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology (IB). He was also the de facto curator of the Jose Vera Santos Herbarium according to Ong, IB director.
Co also used to work as a botanist of Conservation International-Philippines. His colleagues remember him as a serious botanist yet endowed with a sense of humor.
Ben Vallejo, in his blogsite Agham at Scientia, likewise expressed his sadness upon learning that the insurgency “has again claimed another life of the best and brightest of the Philippines.”
“In Leonard Co's case, a bright life that cannot be replaced. For he was one of if not the last of the classically trained botanists in plant taxonomy and systematics in the Philippines. While one can learn the basics of these disciplines in class, one can only gain expertise in the field, observing the plants themselves,” Vallejo, a environmental scientist and educator, wrote.
Vallejo also said that Co earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Botany in 2009, more than 20 years after UP discontinued conferring the degree. His problems with a subject requirement were said to have waived by the university board of regents due to his important contributions to Philippine botany.
A Facebook page has been also put up to remember the late botanist. According to the page, his wake will be held at Funeraria Paz Araneta Avenue, after which his remains will be transferred to the UP Church of the Risen Lord.
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