BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO – One of the suspects in illegal logging activities at Bulabog Putian National Park (BPNP) in Dingle town is “protected” by an employee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6.
This was confirmed by DENR regional director Jim O Sampulna in an interview over DyRI RMN-Iloilo.
Sampulna did not name the said DENR employee but he disclosed that this person held a lower position in the department.
He refused to divulge any more details about this DENR employee because his office was still conducting an in-depth investigation.
Sampulna, however, did not discount the possibility that the six illegal loggers have a “protector.”
To recall, the illegally cut century-old trees at the BPNP had a total value of more than P25 million.
The police authorities are now hunting the suspects.
Those who have already been charged were Rene Devera, 51, and Jajerhen Devera, 23, residents of Brgy. Licuan, Dingle; Cyrus Abunyawan, 36, and Noel Lallego, 35, residents of Brgy. Tulatulaan, also in Dingle; and, Nemrod Lazarito, 28, and Ariel Dayot, 37, residents of Brgy. Camambugan, Dingle.
They were charged with violating:
- Section 77 of Presidential Decree 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, paragraphs 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.
On the other hand, Sampulna advised owners of trees to secure necessary documents before cutting and transporting them.
Sampulna said this is to avoid apprehension while transporting the logs.
But he said tree owners should apply first for cutting permit to be issued with transport permit if they want to transport the logs./PN
