To step up the government’s drive against illegal logging and illegal mining, the Departments of Justice (DOJ), Environment (DENR), and Interior and Local Government (DILG) have formed two joint fact-finding committees which will investigate incidents involving these illegal activities and file cases in court against those involved.
The DOJ on Monday released two joint department orders creating the fact-finding committees on illegal logging and illegal mining.
Members of the fact-finding committee on illegal logging are Environment Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio Jr., Environment OIC Assistant Secretary Marlo Mendoza, lawyer Ranny Spencer Palisoc of the DILG, Special Agent Reynaldo Remo of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), PSupt. Wilson Caubat of the Philippine National Police (PNP), PSupt. Henry Libat of the PNP, and Assistant State Prosecutor Gil Marie Pacamarra of the National Prosecution Service (NPS).
On the other hand, members of the fact-finding committee on illegal mining are DENR Undersecretary Ignacio, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Leo Jasareno, lawyer Alvin Giolagon of DILG, PSupt. Danilo Pelisco of PNP, NBI head agent Sixto Coloma and NPS Assistant State Prosecutor Pacamarra.
In a statement, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the government wants to bring to justice “everyone who profits from these illegal activities, including and especially those who resort to violence against law enforcers and anti-illegal logging and anti-illegal mining activists.”
“We fear, as it has been indeed reported, that the reason why these illicit operations still persist is because there are strategically positioned government agents, officers or officials who protect these operations,” De Lima said.
“If they think they are untouchable, by the creation and operation of these committees, we intend to disabuse them of such notion,” she added.
The illegal logging committee is tasked to investigate incidents of violence or the killing of forest rangers, DENR officials, those charged with enforcing and implementing anti-illegal logging laws, and those otherwise involved in the fight against illegal logging.
On the other hand, the illegal mining committee is tasked to investigate incidents of violence against those charged with enforcing and implementing anti-illegal mining laws, or otherwise involved in the fight against illegal mining.
Last June, President Aquino issued a directive to the three departments “to meet and plan to intensify the implementation of anti-illegal logging campaign and ensure the conviction of those people who violate the log ban” and “to submit monthly reports and updates” to his office.