Publishing date: Sunday, Apr. 27, 2008 (12:00 AM)
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza today said the reported resumption of illegal logging in Dingalan, Aurora must be stopped at all costs, while those behind the nefarious activity must suffer the full force of the law.
The statement was issued by Atienza in reaction to published reports, which quoted a leader of Task Force Sierra Madre, that illegal loggers are again active in cutting down trees in Aurora province.
“I have personally confirmed the report from my independent sources in the area and I have found that it has sufficient basis,” an enraged Atienza said.
At the same time, Atienza ordered the immediate relief of Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) Meliton Vicente. "As I've always told our DENR officials that they shall be held responsible and liable for unlawful activities in their areas of responsibilities, Vicente will not only be relieved of his duties but we will also make him answerable for all these charges of illegal logging in his area of responsibility. Appropriate charges will definitely be filed against him," Atienza said.
Vicente was replaced by Joselito Blanco, a former CENRO for Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
Atienza said a combined team of legal and law enforcement agents from the DENR will be dispatched to Dingalan and other areas in Central Luzon to gather more information about the illegal logging activities in the area so that necessary legal measures will be taken.
“We have seen in Dingalan four years ago the wrath of nature when landslides killed a number of townspeople and sent several thousand others homeless,” Atienza said. “All steps must be taken to stop illegal logging in Dingalan and other parts of the country. To allow illegal logging to continue is like begging for a catastrophe with epic proportions to happen.”
Calling illegal loggers as “chainsaw murderers,” Atienza said they must suffer the consequences of their action to the fullest extent of the law. “I am warning all illegal loggers and environmental criminals that we will hunt you down and send you to prison.”
The DENR chief was also alarmed by reports that a relative of Dingalan town mayor Zenaida Padiernos was linked to the latest incidents of logging activities. “Local executives are our first line of defense in implementing environmental laws. We face a bigger problem when local executives are not part of the solution.”
Atienza said community action and vigilance of people’s and non-government organizations are two of the best ways to expose the activities and bring to justice environmental criminals. He noted that the resumption of illegal logging activities in Dingalan was brought to public attention by Fr. Pete Montallana, head of the Task Force Sierra Madre-Dingalan chapter.
“We want to strengthen partnerships with organizations like the TFSM,” Atienza said. “Environmental criminals are wily. We must be one step ahead of them and organizations like TFSM are our best allies in preventing violators in carrying out their moves.
Reptileman´s Comment:it´s about time sir - somebody is doing some action there! congratulation!
how about the problems in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro ? i reported illegal logging over and over again to CENRO and to PENRO... no action! Also my personal Reports and my written Paper
here to Director Dr. Mundita Lim where fruitless. our local Government is helpless or/and willing-less it seem to me. just for your informations: our findings showed still an very impressive flora and fauna on Mount Malasimbo. lets do somethings, before it is to late and we finally have lost everything!
sincerely yours
Mario Lutz
Thu 8 May - 22:28
