Four charged for cutting coco trees without permit

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has filed criminal complaints before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office against four people from Dumanjug town for allegedly cutting coconut trees without a permit.

PCA officer-in-charge Emiliano Balios accused Henry Revilla, Efren Gongoyon, Rose Marie Fuentes, and Arnulfo Genzon of violating Republic Act 8048 or the Coconut Preservation Act of 1995.

The respondents illegally cut a total of 18 coconut trees in Barangay Kanguha, Dumanjug, Cebu on May 15 and 17, 2013.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by spouses Francisco and Manuela Allanic of Barangay Kanguha.

The Allanic couple is the tenant of a parcel of land owned by the late spouses Lorenzo and Martina Jimenez. The Allanics claimed that the lot was mortgaged to them in October 1999 by the four children of the late Jimenez couple.

A mortgage contract was entered into between the Allanics and the heirs of the Jimenez couple stipulating a period of eight years to redeem the property. After eight years, one of the heirs asked for another eight years extension of contract.

However, on May 15, 2013 the respondents allegedly cut the coconut trees within the property without securing the necessary permit from the PCA. —  (FREEMAN)