Police in trouble for cutting down trees

URDANETA CITY — A police official is now in trouble for cutting 10 gmelina trees at the police headquarters in Tayug town without first obtaining permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Leduina Co, Community Environment and Natural Resources officer, told The STAR that while Superintendent Ruben Catabona, group director of the Provincial Mobile Group in Tayug, had good intentions, the police official should not have bypassed the process prior to cutting the trees.

Co said that Catabona ordered 10 matured gmelina trees to be cut down to be used for the construction of beddings,chapel seats and office cabinets.

According to Co, Catabona informed her on the first week of May that he applied for permits to cut the trees. She explained that gmelina trees are classified as paper trees and really need to be harvested within 10 to 14 years after planting, otherwise the trees will have holes inside and they will become useless.

But while Catabona’s request was still being processed, Co said the police official went on with the cutting.

When Co visited the police camp last May 24, the trees had been cut.

This prompted Co to write to Catabona to inform him of his violation of the Forestry Rules and Regulations.

She said that all permits regarding cutting of trees must pass through the DENR provincial head. It may then be elevated to the regional level, or if necessary, even up to the national level.

This process can only be skipped in instances when the trees pose a danger to human lives and properties, she said.

Catabona admitted his "lapses" and is now planting fruit-bearing trees in lieu of the cut gmelina trees. Based on a DENR ruling, for every one cut tree, five should be replanted.

In the past, other police officials and even school principals have also violated the DENR ruling. — Eva Visperas