Developer indicted for building seawall sans DENR permit

CEBU - The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has indicted a developer in Bantayan Island for violation of the National Integrated Protected Area System when she constructed a seawall without securing a permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba found probable cause to hold Buen Consejo-Duragos for trial after she failed to answer the charges during preliminary investigation.

Investigating prosecutor Nelia Sistoso gave Duragos enough time to submit her counter-affidavit but the accused failed to do so.

Duragos only asked for a 10-day extension to submit her counter-affidavit twice, which already expired in the first week of September.

Sistoso then recommended for the filing of the information of the case to court because of Duragos’ failure to submit her counter-affidavit. Petralba approved Sistoso’s recommendation and required the accused to pay P12,000 bail for her temporary liberty.

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office earlier found Duragos constructing a seawall in the shoreline of barangay Baigad, Bantayan last April.

PENRO officer Teodorico Barral said they did not authorize the construction, which is in violation of Section 20 of Republic Act 7586, otherwise known as the NIPAS Act of 1992.

Forester Edgar Ricafort, who was assigned in Bantayan Island to monitor, maintain and implement forestry laws, first reported the discovery of the illegal construction last April and continued to monitor it until it was finished.

Duragos allegedly went on with the illegal construction despite warning from PENRO to stop it. — Fred P. Languido/LPM (THE FREEMAN)