Stories

Decade and a half trial, Slain People’s Botanist elusive of Justice

On this 15th of November, we mark the 15th anniversary of the brutal killing of Leonardo L. Co, a respected botanist, plant taxonomist, and dedicated environmental defender. Co and his companions, Sofronio Cortez and Julius Borromeo, were murdered by elements of the 19th Infantry Battalion (19th IB) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines while conducting critical fieldwork in Kananga, Leyte, in 2010. This attack was not an accident; it was a targeted act of violence against those who prioritize nature and people over profit.

The incident occurred during the counter-insurgency operation called ‘Oplan X-mas Gift,’ where soldiers from the 19th IB indiscriminately open-fired on the botanists, mistaking them as members of the revolutionary New People’s Army (NPA). Witnesses report that Co, carrying only his tools, cried out, ‘Tama na, hindi kami armado’ (Stop, we are not [READ]

RENATO2025-11-18T21:45:46+08:00November 20, 2025|

Botanist Leonardo L. Co’s handwriting

Botanist Leonardo L. Co’s handwriting. He is fluent in Hokkien and Mandarin, aside from English & Ilocano, having spent many years in the Ilocos and Cordillera while writing 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢. He writes poems in Filipino. Ang hindi ko makakalimutang bilin niya: “Ang utak, hindi lang ginagamit para mag-imbak ng impormasyon, kundi para pag-isipan ang mga bagay.” Today is his 15th death anniversary. (From Jerry B. Gracio’s Facebook Post)

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RENATO2025-11-18T21:42:38+08:00November 19, 2025|

Merch for a Cause!

Celebrate Native Plants Week 2025 by honoring the legacy of Filipino botanists who dedicated their lives to studying and protecting our native flora.

From November 17–21 at UP Baguio, drop by the Native Plants Committee Booth to buy Leonard Co’s book and order limited-edition shirts inspired by the country’s pioneering botanists and their invaluable contributions to Philippine botany.

All proceeds will go to Leonard Co’s beneficiaries to help with their legal expenses, continuing the cause for justice and the conservation of our natural heritage.

Wear your advocacy. Support our scientists. Celebrate our roots.

[READ]

RENATO2025-11-18T21:49:05+08:00November 18, 2025|

Rare photos of PH flora species found 15 years after death of ‘People’s Botanist’ Leonard Co – Rappler

Nov 16, 2025 3:57 PM PHT | Sca isidro

(The images were downloaded to a hard drive of Co’s friend, Imelda Sarmiento, just months before his untim

ely passing)

MANILA, Philippines – On his 15th death anniversary, family and friends of the late ethnobotanist Leonard Co held a press conference to announce that they were giving public access to rare photographs of native flora taken by Co — the People’s Botanist — a few months before he died.

On November 14, 2010, Co, forest guard Sofronio Cortez, and guide Julius Borromeo, were in Kananga, Leyte, for a forest restoration project when soldiers mistook them for rebels and fired at them.

Among those present at the event held at the Institute of Biology (IB) of University of the Philippines in Diliman on Saturday, November 14, [READ]

RENATO2025-11-18T21:38:31+08:00November 18, 2025|

FOREST MEANS FOREVER

FOREST MEANS FOREVER: 15 years after the murder of Leonard Co, a people’s botanist, colleagues gather at the Institute of Biology, UP Diliman, for a press conference today, November 15, not just to demand justice for Co but also to publicize content from years worth of his botanical documentation.

The database features 3970 photos of Co’s documentation and information about the country’s native flora. It also contains some of Co’s personal photos.

As people close to him and civil society whom he served continues to demand justice for his murder, the event serves as an immortalization of his legacy and contribution for the environment and its people.

Photos by Aaron Ernest Cruz/ Bulatlat

Text by Jian Zharese Joeis Sanz/ Bulatlat

[READ]

RENATO2025-11-16T15:38:51+08:00November 16, 2025|

Gaya ng kagubatan, nananatiling buhay si Leonard

TINGNAN | Gaya ng kagubatan, nananatiling buhay si Leonard

Ito ang diwa ng pagtitipon para sa paggunita ng ika-15 taong pagpaslang kay Leonard L. Co, isang botanist at mananaliksik, Nob. 15, sa UP Institute of Biology.

Sa pangunguna ng Constantino Foundation, pinasinayaan ngayong araw ang digitized na koleksiyon ng mga retrato ng iba’t ibang halaman na dinokumento ni Co sa mga nalalabing taon bago siya pinatay ng mga elemento ng militar habang nasa fieldwork sa Kananga, Leyte noong 2010.

Ang koleksiyon ay kasalukuyang sinisinop at inaasahang maipapasa sa UP Data Commons upang isang maging malayang rekurso tungkol sa katutubong flora dito sa bansa.

Inanunsiyo rin sa pagtitipon ang paglilimbag ng ikaapat na edisyon ng “Philippine Native Trees,” isang koleksiyon [READ]

RENATO2025-11-16T15:31:56+08:00November 16, 2025|

LOOK: Environmental advocates and scientists, with friends and family of the late botanist Leonard Co, commemorated the scientist’s 15th death anniversary Saturday at the Institute of Biology.

Co and his two companions Sofronio Cortez and Julius Borromeo were killed 15 years ago by elements of the 19th Infantry Battallion while conducting field work in Kananga, Leyte. To this day, there is still no resolution on the scientist’s killing, with the most recent hearings on the case occurring last August to September.

Though justice remains elusive, Glenda Co, widow of Leonard Co, said she remains hopeful, in a press briefing. “Si Leonard ay isang tao na—hindi natin matatawaran ang kanyang galing sa botany. Siya po ay hindi lang isang botanist, siya ay tagapagtanggol ng kalikasan,” she added.

[READ]

RENATO2025-11-16T15:29:48+08:00November 16, 2025|

“𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐧𝐚, 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐤𝐚𝐦𝐢 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐨.”

Labing-limang taon na ang lumipas mula nang paslangin si Dr. Leonardo Legaspi Co ng 19th Infantry Battalion ng Armed Forces of the Philippines habang nagsasagawa sila ng kaniyang grupo ng siyentipikong pag-aaral sa kagubatan ng Kananga, Leyte. Kasama sa mga nasawi ay ang empleyado ng Energy Development Corporation na si Sofronio Cortez at ang magsasakang si Julio Borromeo. Samantalang sugatan ang kanilang mga kasamang sina Ronino Gibe at Policarpio Balute. Sa halip na protektahan sila, sila’y pinagkamalan. Isang krimen na hanggang ngayon ay pilit pang tinatakpan at pinalalampas ng estado.

Si Dr. Co ay hindi kalaban ng bayan. Siya ay isang botanistang nag-alay ng buong buhay para sa kalikasan. Isang mahusay na anak ng UP Diliman na may pambihirang talino at malasakit. Kabisado niya ang pangalan ng libo-libong halaman sa Ingles, Tagalog, at mga wikang katutubo dahil [READ]

RENATO2025-11-16T15:10:29+08:00November 16, 2025|

[STATEMENT ON LEONARD CO’S 15TH DEATH ANNIVERSARY] – UP Association of Biology Majors

Labinlimang taon na ang lumipas, ngunit nananatiling sariwa ang tanong: 𝗽𝗮𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝗵𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗯𝘂𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗴-𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘄𝗮, 𝗽𝗮𝗴-𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗴, 𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽 𝘀𝗮 𝗸𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻?

Sa darating na Nobyembre 15, ginugunita ng UP Association of Biology Majors ang ika-15 na anibersaryo ng pagpaslang kay Dr. Leonard Legaspi Co at ang labinlimang taong laban ng kaniyang pamilya para sa hustiyang hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa naipagkakaloob.

Sa halos dalawang dekada, hindi masukat ang lawak ng ambag ni Dr. Leonard Co para sa larangan ng botanika sa ating bansa. Tinaguriang “foremost ethnobotanist” ng bansa, naitala niya ang higit-kumulang 10,000 uri ng halaman, bawat isa’y kaniyang inilarawan sa 129 na pananaliksik. Kaniyang inilathala ang “Medicinal Plants in the Cordillera Region” upang bigyang gabay ang mga pangkalusugang programa sa rehiyon. Pinangunahan [READ]

RENATO2025-11-16T14:04:51+08:00November 16, 2025|

LEONARDO CO: BAYANI NG BAYAN – Jerry B. Gracio

Dalawa ang iniingatan kong memorabilia ni Leonardo L. Co: isang drawing, at ang ilang bahagi ng kanyang manuscript tungkol sa Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, at Xingwei—the Traditional Concepts of Drug Nature in Chinese Medicine.

Si Leonard ang isa sa pinakamahusay nating botanist, nangunangunang ethnobotanist, marahil, ang pinakamahusay nating taxonomist. Nakilala ko siya habang nagtatrabaho sa isang NGO, naging kaibigan. Ang drawing at ang manuscript, parehong nasa scratch paper. Ayaw kasi niya na may nasasayang, nanghihinayang siya sa papel. Dahil ang papel ay gawa sa puno, mahal na mahal niya ang ating mga puno at halaman.

Pero hindi lang botanist si Leonard. Sa kanya ko unang narinig ang quote na “specialization is for insects,” na narinig ko rin, sa mas mahabang version mula kay Lean Alejandro kalaunan. At totoong hindi lang botany [READ]

RENATO2025-11-16T15:43:33+08:00November 16, 2025|