CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Officials of the Pampanga I Electric Cooperative (Pelco I) may soon face criminal charges and a host of other penalties for the alleged cutting of 125 trees in two towns last month.
This, as Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer Laudemir Salac, in a September 10 memo to the regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recommended the filing of criminal cases against five officials and personnel of Pelco I.
The report of the provincial environment office of the DENR said 47 trees by the roadsides in the villages of San Pedro and San Juan in Sta. Ana town and 78 trees at Barangay San Ildefonso in Magalang town were allegedly cut on August 30.
Salac recommended that Pelco I be required to pay P1.8 million for the cut trees in both towns. The recommendation also included the cancellation of the chain saw permits of Pelco I.
Salac also recommended the revocation of the memorandum of agreement signed by then DENR regional director Gregorio Nisperos.
SunStar Pampanga tried but failed to reach Pelco I officials for comments at press time.