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Friday, February 04, 2005
Raps filed v. 'illegal loggers', barangay officials
MANILA -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) filed Thursday anti-illegal logging cases against 11 owners and operators of logging companies in the provinces of Quezon, Aurora, and Nueva Ecija and several barangay officials.
Environment Secretary Michael Defensor said administrative charges were also filed against the barangay officials for allegedly tolerating illegal logging activities in their areas.
Charged with violation of forestry laws before the Department of Justice (DOJ) were Romeo Roxas, RJ Roxas, Ben Cheng, Allan Tan, and a certain Engineer Dagul of Green Circle Logging Corporation; Ben Cheng of Inter-Pacific Forest Resources Corp.; Totoy Ang of Kasibo Sawmill; Wilson Ng, who allegedly purchased illegal logs in General Nakar, Quezon; Jessue Pua, owner of the trucks where illegal logs were loaded; and brothers William and Wilson Marquez, who have been identified by the residents of Infanta as financiers of illegal logging activities in the province of Quezon.
Among the barangay officials charged were Hernan Avenilla, Epifanio Orozco, Lina Orozco, Diolito Briones, and Mario dela Cruz, all of Infanta town.
Earlier, the environment department filed cases against Mayor Hernando Avellaneda of General Nakar, Quezon and members of his family for their alleged involvement in illegal logging.
Defensor said the cases were based on the testimonies of witnesses who had a long-term and close relationship with notorious loggers and their protectors.
"We mean business in the war against illegal logging. Big-time illegal loggers, their financiers, government officials, and even ordinary folk who dare to violate our forestry laws are given severe notice with our filing of criminal cases," said Defensor.
He maintained that those charged were responsible in one way or another for the flashfloods in Quezon in Aurora and Nueva Ecija last December that killed many people. (JFF)
(February 4, 2005 issue)
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