FILE ILLEGAL LOGGING CHARGES AGAINST SOLDIERS
Posted: 10:58 PM (Manila Time) | Apr. 23, 2004
By Emir Emano Gamis, Inquirer Southern Luzon Bureau
Inquirer News Service

SORSOGON CITY-Several Army men were found involved in alleged illegal logging activities within the Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, a protected area in Sorsogon, but the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the province has not moved to prosecute the violators. The environment watchdog Tanggol Kalikasan (Defend Nature) in Bicol has called on DENR-Sorsogon to file a "long overdue case" against the military men who were found to have cut hardwood trees within the Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP) in December last year.

The 3,673-hectare natural park that sits in Casiguran, Barcelona, Irosin, and Juban towns, was proclaimed a protected area in 2000, but its environment, which is home to diverse flora, fauna, and aquatic resources, is threatened by illegal loggers and encroachers.

Jun Narvadez, area director of Tanggol Kalikasan-Bicol, said they were monitoring whether the DENR would file a case against a certain Sgt. Lorenzo Domdom and other soldiers under the Army's 2nd Infantry Battalion, 9th Infantry Brigade based in Barangay Anog, Juban, saying that the issue had dragged on long enough. "If they would not file the case, then we might call the attention of Secretary (Elisea) Gozun to the matter," he said.

In a memorandum to Oscar Dominguez, provincial environment and natural resources officer, Lemuel Soriano, BVNP protected area superintendent, noted that starting Dec. 4 last year, 11 premium hardwood trees, mostly narra, had been cut down. The cutting took place after a certain Jose Gamba of Barangay Tinampo in Irosin donated three trees to the Army to be used in the construction of its headquarters, emphasizing that the military first secure a permit from the DENR, according to Soriano. On Dec. 4, forest guards in Irosin detected cut trees in two sitios (hamlets) and were told by Domdom that their cutting permit was with their commanding officer, Lt. Col. Romeo Cabatic. Cabatic has denied knowledge of the logging and said that Domdom and his companions would be "automatically disarmed" and sanctioned. Soriano also suggested the filing of cases against Gamba, Domdom, and his companions.  

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