Government urged to protect the environment more

WITH the arrest of Chinese nationals last week, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma has urged the government to “protect more the environment” especially from foreign nationals who allegedly destroyed the mountains, rivers and forests through their illegal activities.

Ledesma, who has long been campaigning for the protection of the environment, said he supported the effort of different individuals and environment group Sulog in their advocacies against illegal mining and illegal logging.

Zong Hengyuan, 43, and He Jiancheng, 42, were arrested last week during a raid in a barge in sitio Araw-Araw, Barangay Pagalungan in Cagayan de Oro City.

The team also padlocked at least four barges that were allegedly disguised as dredgers but were actually excavators scooping the river bottom for gold.

The two foreigners were later charged with violation of the Philippine Mining Act, Republic Act 7076 or the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991, and Executive Order 074-2012 issued by City Mayor Vicente Emano.

Though the cases filed against the two Chinese nationals were dismissed by the court for “insufficiency of evidence,” Ledesma said, adding: “All the more we have to protect our environment from these foreign nationals.”

“I hope our local government official will do their responsibility and put emphasis on the protection and environmental conservation,” he said. (Abigail Chee Kee Malalis)