Sierra Madre priest asks Aquino: Replace DENR chief

A Catholic priest advocating forest protection and a former environment chief from Mindanao lauded the Commission on Appointments (CA) for deferring the confirmation of Environment Secretary Ramon Paje Jr.

Fr. Pete Montallana on Thursday called on President Aquino to stop supporting Paje and instead replace him with a true environmentalist.

“Its now time for President Aquino to let go of Mr. Paje and look for his replacement,” said Montallana, chair of Save Sierra Madre Network (SSMN), a multisectoral alliance of forest protection advocates.

Former environment secretary Antonio Cerilles, now governor of Zamboanga del Sur, said the CA was justified in bypassing the appointment of Paje.

“He was bypassed because of questions on his competency, his integrity and his qualification,” said Cerilles.

The CA on Wednesday deferred for the second time the confirmation of Paje due to opposition from various nongovernment organizations and environmentalist groups. The CA environment committee, chaired by Sen. Francis Escudero, also postponed recommending Paje for confirmation on Aug. 10.

Montallana claimed that Paje, who was environment undersecretary before he was appointed secretary, has failed to stop rampant corruption at Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) offices in Quezon, Aurora, Isabela and Central Luzon.

The Franciscan priest gave the former forester a “failing mark” for his failure to protect Sierra Madre.

“There’s a continuous unholy alliance between corrupt DENR personnel and environmental criminals. We have referred to DENR bosses many violations and corrupt practices but they failed to investigate and hold the culprits accountable,” said Montallana.

Paje said he does not begrudge Montallana for his criticisms.

“I cannot blame him for his impatience and frustration,” Paje said. Montellana, he said, was at the CA hearing and even acknowledged that he did good things at the DENR.

Paje also noted that Montellana asked him to do certain reforms that were not allowed by government regulations. “The procedure dictates that we follow civil service rules,” he said.

Cerilles accused Paje of lying for claiming not to remember complaints on illegal mining, especially in the Zamboanga area. “That he didn’t receive any report and that he has no knowledge of it, that’s a brazen lie,” said Cerilles.

“He reviewed all these documents. In fact he was one of the most powerful  (officials) under the Arroyo administration and was even in charge of mining so I don’t believe him,” Cerilles said.

The Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment also opposed the appointment of Paje, saying he should not be allowed to remain in his post.

“(Paje) has done more harm than good to protect and manage our environment and natural resources. As DENR secretary, Paje has facilitated the sell-out of thousands of hectares of our mineral lands and resources,” said Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan PNE, in a statement.

South Cotabato Rep. Daisy Fuentes, however, said Paje should have been confirmed “because he deserved to be,” claiming she has not heard of any negative things about Paje. Delfin Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon, Julie Alipala and Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao and Kay Alave in Manila