BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. is fuming. Some P25-million worth of endemic and indigenous species of trees found only at the Bulabog-Putian Natural Park (BPNP) in Dingle town had been illegally cut.
The suspected illegal loggers initially detained have been released after the reglementary period lapsed. Defensor ordered the police to find them again.
Charges have been filed against six suspects on May 8.
“I want them arrested before they could escape and hide,” Defensor stressed.
The illegal logging was discovered on May 3 but the inventory was conducted only on May 6.
Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director, Senior Supt. Cornelio Salinas said an onsite inventory should have been conducted immediately.
The police and responding personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources counted a total of 35 naturally-growing forest trees logged – equivalent to 158.96 cubic meters and with an estimated value of P25,251,845.80.
Some of the forest trees were already centuries-old – mahogany, magupilas, sawi, itang-itang, kubi, talagtag, bita, salong, paluwahan, badlan, and dao.
Cynthia Blancia, community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) in Barotac Nuevo, filed three separate charges against the following:
- Rene L. Devera, 51, of Brgy. Licuan, Dingle
- Jajerhen L. Devera, 23, of Brgy. Licuan, Dingle
- Cyrus A. Abunyawan, 36, of Brgy. Tulatulaan, Dingle
- Noel L. Lallego, 35, of Brgy. Tulatulaan, Dingle
- Nemrod C. Lazarito, 28, of Brgy. Camambugan, Dingle, and
- Ariel C. Dayot, 37, of Brgy. Camambugan, Dingle.
The charges were for violation of:
- Section 77 of Presidential Decree (PD) 705, as amended otherwise known as the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines
- Section 7, paragraphs 1,3 and 4 of Republic Act 9175 otherwise known as An Act Regulating the Ownership, Possession, Sale, Importation and Use of Chainsaws, Penalizing violations Thereof and for Other Purposes; and,
- Section 20 paragraph a and c of Republic Act 7586 otherwise known as An Act Providing for the Establishment and Management of National Integrated Protected Areas System, Defining its Scope and Coverage, and for Other Purposes.
Also recovered from the site were a bolo and a unit of unregistered chainsaw with tampered serial number owned by Lazarito, contrary to the provisions of Republic Act 9175./PN
