THE Department of Interior and Local Government has recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against government officials and private individuals for violation of environmental laws in a protected watershed in Baras, Rizal.
Interior Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya made the recommendation to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in response to a letter from the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, seeking the DILG’s assistance on incursion by the GSB Resort, owned by Arnel Olitoquit and Jay Sambilay, into the protected watershed areas of San Roque, Baras, Rizal.
Malaya, a member of the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force (AILTF), said government officials and private individuals should be held accountable for illegal entry, illegal logging, and encroachment/construction of a private resort and other infrastructure within the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape.
He said site inspectors of the DILG regional and provincial offices confirmed the illegal cutting of trees and slash-and-burn activities in some 16 hectares, and illegal construction by the resort along the main road and waterways which are within the protected areas.
“What is also appalling and alarming is the large-scale cutting of trees and kaingin activities covering more than 16 hectares in multiple sections of UMRBPL. Several new structures were also erected in the areas where the trees were burned,” said Malaya.
He said armed guards have been posted in the portion of the site of the burned trees.
“Despite repeated warnings from the government, these establishments continue to build infrastructure in the area. This is detrimental to the country’s environmental preservation initiatives, not to mention our COVID-19 response,” said Malaya.
In the letter to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Malaya said charges should be filed against officials and entities for wanton disregard and violation of the Upper Marikina Protected Landscape Declaration, Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated and Protected Areas System Act, the Revised Forestry Code, the Water Code of the Philippines, and the DENR Administrative Order 1993-33 (Masungi Strict Nature Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary).
“Since AILTF is mandated to take the lead in the anti-illegal logging campaign of the government and to assist the DENR in the enforcement of environmental laws, the filing of charges against concerned officials and groups will put a stop to the wanton destruction currently being done in the area as well as hold accountable the officials responsible,” he said.
