5 mayors being investigated over illegal logs

Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines– Five mayors in Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte have been placed under investigation for allegedly failing to detect the shipment of millions of pesos worth of illegally cut logs that were transported through their towns.

The log shipments were intercepted here on their way to a wood processing company.

Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. said the 7,255 pieces of logs, worth at least P16 million, was the largest illegal log haul in the Caraga region this year.

Amante said he wondered how the log shipments were able to slip past several environmental protection checkpoints in the riverside towns of La Paz, San Luis, Talacogon, Esperanza and Las Nieves.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said he has ordered an investigation of Agusan del Sur mayors Leonida Manpatilan (Esperanza town), Ronaldo Corvera (San Luis), Isaias Masendo (Talacogon) and Ambrosio Lim (La Paz).

Robredo said Reinario Rosales, mayor of Las Nieves town in Agusan del Norte, would also be investigated.

“Was there neglect of duty or did they allow this to happen?” said Robredo in an interview with the INQUIRER during a visit here last Monday.

“In our show-cause order, we asked them why no action was taken in their jurisdictions. The mayors, chiefs of police and village chieftains have indirect accountability for this,” he said.

But Robredo quickly clarified that the mayors will not be suspended during the investigation, saying due process has to be followed.

President Benigno Aquino III has issued an executive order declaring a total ban on commercial logging nationwide. Robredo said this EO mandates mayors and other local officials to seize illegal logs in favor of government.