MANILA, Philippines - Five mayors from Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte are in trouble for their alleged inaction and failure to detect at least P16 million worth of illegally cut logs recently intercepted in Butuan City on their way to a wood processing company.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday said he would issue show cause orders against Mayors Leonida Manpatilan of Esperanza, Ronaldo Corvera of San Luis, Isaias Masendo of Talacogon, Ambrosio Lim of La Paz, and Reinario Rosales of Las Nieves to explain the apparent unabated illegal logging activities in their respective areas.
Aside from the five mayors, several officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will also be required to explain in writing why they should not be held administratively and criminally liable for dereliction of duty on the government’s anti-illegal logging campaign.
“As part of our investigation, we will ask the mayors and the DENR employees manning the checkpoints in the logging areas to submit written reports why they failed to take appropriate action to stop the illegal logging and the transport (of the hot logs) outside of their jurisdiction. The mayors, chiefs of police and village officials there will also be investigated for their possible accountability,” Robredo said.
At least 7,255 pieces of illegally cut logs were seized in Butuan City last June 4. The hot logs, which came from Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte, were said to be the biggest illegal log haul in the Caraga region so far this year.
Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. informed Robredo about the intercepted hot logs during the DILG chief’s visit in the city last week.
Amante told Robredo that the hot logs managed to slip past several checkpoints manned by DENR employees in the towns of La Paz, San Luis, Talacogon, Esperanza and Las Nieves without being detected.
President Aquino earlier had issued an executive order declaring a total ban on commercial logging nationwide and ordered mayors and other local officials to seize illegal logs in favor of the government.
For his part, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje has ordered an investigation into allegations that local DENR personnel failed to detect the hot logs while being transported in the vicinity of Agusan River.
He also thanked Robredo and Amante for providing assistance in the confiscation of the hot logs in Butuan City.
Two mobile DENR monitoring teams have been deployed to monitor illegal logging activities along the 390-kilometer river system, particularly in the town of Talacogon in Agusan del Sur and Las Nieves town in Agusan del Norte.
The seized logs, consisting mostly of red and white lawaan, are now in the custody of the government.
Meanwhile, the DENR office in the Caraga region has closed down 95 wood processing plants and sawmills since last year in line with the campaign against illegal logging.
DENR-Caraga regional executive director Leonardo Sibbaluca said they have filed 25 cases against illegal loggers and owners of wood processing firms. – With Michael Punongbayan, Rhodina Villanueva, Ben Serrano