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Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Justice chief asks for dossier on illegal loggers
By Benjamin B. Pulta
MANILA -- Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. on Monday asked Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago for the list of big-time illegal loggers as well government officials protecting them.
Gonzales's move was in line with the thrust of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration to go after illegal loggers and to spare no one in its campaign.
In a one-page letter to Santiago, Gonzales said he would want information on the persons behind the illegal practice in 25 provinces covered by the senator's privilege speech Monday.
"May I request your office to furnish us whatever evidentiary documents you have in your possession to enable us to initiate an immediate investigation on the matter and if evidence so warrants, prosecute them in court," Gonzalez said in his letter.
Gonzalez said his agency may likewise compel the secretary of environment and natural resources to give the relevant evidentiary evidence to give proof against the loggers and the government officials protecting them.
He earlier pointed out that charges for violation of Presidential Decree (PD) 705 will be filed against civilians and officials engaged in the illegal trade.
The law penalizes violations of the Revised Forestry Code with imprisonment of six to 12 years.
Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri, whose province was one of the 25 mentioned in Santiago's speech, denied that illegal logging was widespread in the area.
At Malacañang presidential palace, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, who is Arroyo's spokesman, said Tuesday government will spare no one in its campaign against illegal logging.
Bunye said Malacañang will look into several personalities, including incumbent government officials, accused by Senator Santiago of involvement in illegal logging.
He assured the public that well-grounded complaints against illegal logging, including those aired in media, will be acted upon promptly. He said illegal loggers and their cohorts in the government will be investigated and prosecuted.
"We appreciate the growing concern among our leaders for the need to protect our forests and we support all earnest efforts to expose and stop illegal logging," he added.
Santiago last Monday named government officials and businessmen allegedly involved in illegal logging and those in cahoots with illegal loggers.
Senator Santiago identified the following governors of provinces where illegal logging is allegedly rampant: Tomas Joson of Nueva Ecija, Wilfredo Enverga of Quezon, Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin, Loreto Leo Ocampos of Misamis Occidental, Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental, Imelda Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, Jose Caballero of Compostela Valley, Gelacio Gementiza of Davao del Norte, Ma. Elena Palma-Gil of Davao Oriental, Emmanuel Piñol of Cotabato, Daisy Fuentes of South Cotobato, Datu Pax Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat, Miguel Rene Dominguez of Saranggani, Fernando Gonzales of Albay, Jesus Typoco of Camarines Norte, Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, Leandro Verceles Jr. of Catanduanes, Raul Lee of Sorsogon, Carlos Jericho Petilla of Leyte, Adolph Edward Plaza of Agusan del Sur, Vicente Pimentel Jr. of Surigao del Sur, Jose Ma. Zubiri of Bukidnon, and Bellaflor Angara-Castillo (not Catillo as earlier reported).
Governor Zubiri, who was included in Santiago's list, denied that illegal logging is extensive in his province.
He challenged Santiago and her informant at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to name the sitios and the barangays in Bukidnon where illegal logging is being done.
"To allege without basis that tree-cutting is rampant in Bukidnon is to defame the honor of the people of the first province to wage a people power revolt against loggers-both the legal and illegal varieties," Zubiri said in a statement sent to the Senate.
Zubiri urged Santiago to visit Bukidnon to see its natural attractions like the Mount Kilantad National Park.
Also in Santiago's list of illegal loggers were Mayor Hernando Avellaneda of General Nakar, Quezon; Mayor Irenia Hitgana of Trento, Agusan del Sur; a congressman from Mindanao; barangay chairman; former governors; and prominent businessmen.
The government's intensified campaign against illegal logging came after landslides and floods that killed thousands of people in Quezon and Aurora provinces.
Authorities said rampant illegal cutting of trees caused the disaster.
Arroyo appointed retired military intelligence chief Victor Corpus to head the Natural Resources Development Council (NRDC) and help the Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) in tracking down illegal loggers. (JPM contributed to this report)
(February 2, 2005 issue)
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