THE Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office has rejected the complaint filed by the City Government of Baguio against Gateluck Corporation over the death of 45 trees along Legarda Road.
Baguio Regreening Movement (BRM) chairman Erdolfo Balajadia called on the Baguio City Legal Office to take other legal measures to pursue the case.
“This should be studied very carefully. And if those who filed the case still believe that it should be acted upon by the prosecutor’s office, they should file a motion for reconsideration. And if denied and if they still feel that it should be acted upon by the prosecutor’s office, they can go up on appeal to the Department of Justice,” Balajadia said.
In August, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong led the filing of a case against the company for violations of Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area Systems Act.
Development Management Officer Victor Gorinto of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) explained the basis for the fiscals office to junk the said case was that Legarda road is not within the protected areas of the city.
Before any area could be declared as a protected area by Congress, this will have to undergo a rigorous process.
Gorinto added that they are still awaiting the next move of the City Legal Office so those liable for the massacre will be held accountable for their actions.
Once the case is filed, the corporation will be barred from developing the area until the case is dismissed. Permits issued by the city government, if any, will also be revoked.
The case of the City Government will be anchored on 45 counts of violation of the environmental code and will be jointly filed with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Magalong earlier said Gateluck Corporation may face suspension or cancellation of its Securities and Exchange Commission registration.