8 DENR field officers suspended

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza has suspended eight field officers of the agency for their alleged involvement in the illegal titling of a 63.96-hectare public land in Tanay, Rizal.

Atienza placed the eight field officers under 90-day preventive suspension for “grave misconduct and gross insubordination,” as they were purported to be responsible for the issuance of 25 free patents covering 63.96 hectares of public land in Tanay, Rizal in 2006 and 2007 despite previous orders to cancel the processing of applications for the areas in question.

Atienza identified those who were sanctioned as Lino Rustia, DENR provincial environment and natural resources officer (PENRO) for Rizal; Salvador Labriaga, chief, Patent and Deeds Section, DENR-Region 4-A; Ildefonso Cortez Jr., Land Management Inspection, DENR-PENRO-Rizal; Aguinaldo Lugayan, forester II, DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Antipolo; Mario Lantican, chief, Utilization Unit, CENRO-Antipolo; Salvador Carriedo Jr., cartographer II, CENRO-Antipolo; Armando Abayari, engineering aide I, CENRO-Antipolo; and Jesus Pampellona, land investigator inspector, CENRO-Antipolo.

Their 90-day preventive suspension took effect last Oct. 20.   – Katherine Adraneda