DENR assures criminal raps vs violators, illegal occupants of protected areas
Acing Environment Secretary Jim Sampulna. (Photo from the Facebook page of DENR)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday assured that it is consistently filing charges against violators and illegal occupants of protected areas.
“We assure His Excellency President Rodrigo Duterte, that the DENR has been consistent in identifying culprits operating in protected areas, investigating on violations, and filing charges against the violators in Masungi and Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL),” DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna said in a statement.
This came after Malacañang on Tuesday told the DENR to file charges against violators of environmental laws in the Marikina Watershed, following environmentalists’ appeal to cancel quarrying agreements in the Upper Marikina Watershed.
According to Sampulna, from year 2021 to February 2022, 16 cases have already been filed against violators through National Bureau of Investigation-Environmental Crimes Division (NBI-EnCD) operations conducted in Barangays San Jose, San Juan, and Pintong Bukawe in Antipolo City and Barangay Pinugay in Baras, Rizal.
“Four convictions were won on Monday, April 25,” said Sampulna.
Apart from these, Sampulna also bared that DENR-Calabarzon had already issued 96 show-cause orders and 43 cease-and-desist orders from August 2018 to March 2022, due to illegal construction, occupation, and conduct of business without clearance from the Protected Area Management Board.
Sampulna also clarified that three companies issued with mineral production sharing agreements (MPSA) in Calabarzon are no longer operational since 2004.
“One MPSA will expire in 2023 and the other two will expire in 2024,” said Sampulna.
He added that the DENR is also currently reviewing the legality of the perpetual land trust given by the agency to Masungi Georeserve Foundation through a memorandum of agreement with former Secretary Gina Lopez.
“The review is being conducted in consideration of certain provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and NIPAS Act,” he said.
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