Ex-SC chief: IBP ready to help in ‘green’ cases

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines—Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno has urged environmental and cause-oriented groups to tap the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in the fight to curb destructive logging and mining activities in the Caraga region.

Puno said green groups, which are at the forefront of the environmental protection drive in Caraga, should not lose hope even if there was a “lack of effective enforcement” of environment laws by the government.

Speaking at Saturday’s launching of a major tree-planting project sponsored by the city government, Puno said the legal services of local IBP chapters “could be drawn in going after and prosecuting environmental law violators.”

‘Green force’

“The IBP has created a special task force and if there are environmental violations we can seek its help. The local IBP chapter, through its green force, will help us in prosecuting violators of our environmental laws,” said the former chief justice, who is credited for organizing the so-called courts during his term.

Puno said the IBP plays a crucial role in the prosecution of illegal loggers and miners and enforcement of environmental laws.

Puno also reiterated the need to plant more trees and for the people to be actively engaged in the government’s forest preservation and protection efforts.

Cleaning Mt. Apo

In Kidapawan City, authorities on Tuesday announced they have succeeded in the drive to keep Mt. Apo clean.

Marie Fe Pame, of the city’s promotions office, said from one ton of garbage in 2009, this year’s trek only yielded 367 kilograms of waste.

“We succeeded in educating our trekkers,” Pame said. Pame also credited forest guards and volunteers for the success of the drive.

She said forest guards and volunteers rigorously inspect trekkers to see if they didn’t leave any garbage in the mountain.

Trekkers who failed to do so were fined P500, Pame said. Franklin Caliguid and Williamor Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao