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Friday, November 11, 2005
Army, rebels behind logging in Davao: official
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Illegal logging activities in Davao Oriental are said to be difficult to stop due to the alleged involvement of the New People's Army and some members of the Philippine Army.
Davao Oriental information officer Neilwin Bravo said they received reports that communist rebels are the ones cutting down trees in the mountains of Baganga and Cateel and selling them afterwards.
"Kaya paano mo yan matitigil (How could you stop that)?" Bravo said.
A businessman involved in wood processing also said some Army detachments in the boundaries of Cateel and Compostela towns are allowing the entry of illegal loggers in Cateel in exchange for monetary support for their daily sustenance.
The businessman, who requested anonymity, said illegal loggers cut trees in Cateel and then transport them to neighboring Compostela Valley province where loggers then secure the necessary permits.
"Kasi ginadeclare na ng mga illegal loggers na galing sa Agusan or Compostela Valley ang mga troso kaya nakakakuha na sila ng permit. Pero sa totoo lang galing talagang Cateel yun and it was illegally cut and allowed by the military to pass through in exchange for money," the businessman said. (The illegal loggers declare the logs to come from Agusan or Compostela Valley so they are given permits. In reality, these came from Cateel and were illegally cut.)
In a telephone interview Thursday, Colonel Antonio Amodia, chief of the Army's 404th Infantry Brigade, said he will look into the matter.
Amodia said they have very limited troops in Cateel, as their main objective in the area is for internal security operations more than anything else.
However, he added, they have just entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Compostela Valley provincial multi-sectoral forest protection committee as part of the military's commitment to protect the environment.
Amodia challenged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to impose a total log ban in the region so that they could easily arrest illegal loggers.
"Mahirap kasi hulihin pag may papeles sila eh. Pero pag total log ban lahat ng makikitang kahoy na tinatransport ay talagang huhulihin namin," Amodia said. (It's difficult to arrest them if they have papers. But if the ban is total, we will immediately arrest those transporting logs.)
Davao Oriental Governor Ma. Elena Palma Gil said Environment Secretary Michael Defensor has ordered the re-implementation of total log ban in the province. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(November 11, 2005 issue)
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