12 arrested for occupying, damaging protected area

CEBU, Philippines - Twelve persons, mostly farmers, were formally charged for violation of Section 14 of Republic Act 9486 or the Central Cebu Protected Landscape Act after they were caught cutting and gathering trees without permit, excavating and destroying natural land, and informally occupying a protected area at the boundary of Barangays Tabunan and Sudlon.

Charged were Cristituto Quia-ot, Elesio Bacalso, Elizardo Racaza, Florencio Borres, Meling Abendon, Marjon Ababon, Maynard Ababon, Jimmy Epe, Carmelito Fernandez, Juan Compra, Lolita Epe, and Nene Ministerio. They were released from detention after posting a bail of P40,000 each.

DENR information officer Eddie Llamedo said the damage on the 1.5 hectares of land has an estimated value of P541,000. The areas sit within the strict protection zone of CCPL.

The team composed of CCPL Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) Ariel Rica, PNP Cebu City Police Office led by Police Chief Inspector Pablo Cabildo and personnel of the 78th IB, 8ID of the Philippine Army apprehended the suspects following a complaint sent by retired general Tiburcio Fusilero on May 3, 2011. The 12 allegedly cut down naturally grown trees and erected structures. The farmers were reportedly notified to stop their activities, but they still allegedly continued.

Llamedo said the area is a portion covered by the Memorandum of Agreement with DENR and Fusilero.

Initial information gathered by the authorities revealed that the suspects were financed by a certain James Uy, a businessman who allegedly illegally bought the lot from someone who “surreptitiously sold and brokered the same to Uy.”

There were two bunkers being built in the area, two electric posts have been installed, 289 concrete foot paths have been erected and about a hectare of natural forest have been totally cleared as all the tress were cut down, Llamedo said.

It can be recalled that a MOA was executed between then DENR Secretary Antonio Cerilles and  Fusilero on the “Adopt-a-Mountain Program” in Barangays Tabunan and Sudlon on November 15, 2000 within the CCPL’s  28,312-hectare.

DENR7 Regional Executive Director Maximo Dichoso commended the efforts of the team as he urged all concerned citizens to immediately report violations or illegal activities within the CCPL area so that proper investigation can be undertaken.

Based on inventory, 301 pieces of boyon-boyon and 38 pieces of pako, all indigenous species of trees, were cut down. They amounted to P41,960.70. The environmental damage reportedly amounted to P500,000.

“We would like to emphasize here that the protection, conservation and management of CCPL is a collective and joint efforts among local government units, non-government organizations, business sectors, and law enforcement agencies like PNP and AFP,” Dichoso said. — (FREEMAN)