SUSPECTS IN CUTTING OF MANGROVE TREES CHARGED
Posted: 10:57 PM (Manila Time) | Jul. 23, 2004
By Yolanda Sotelo-Fuertes
Inquirer News Service

BOLINAO, Pangasinan -- Justice grinds slowly even for trees victimized by humans. In April this year, two mangrove areas here and on the island town of Anda were destroyed reportedly to develop them into fishponds. The residents and an environmental group based in this town complained and asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to file cases against the people responsible.

Three weeks ago, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in Alaminos City finally filed a case against Palau Ripores of Alaminos City for the offense. Ripores was named by two Anda residents as the one who ordered the cutting of mangroves at Sitio Balimbuaya in Barangay Mal-ong in the town. But Celso Salazar, Cenro officer in charge, said the court was still waiting for the witnesses in the case to file their affidavits before the court could act on the case. The witnesses were Reynaldo Aquino of the Sagip Lingayen Gulf Project-Marine Environment Resources Foundation and Prescilliano Onzaga, Anda municipal fishery and aquatic resources management coordinator. Ripores allegedly ordered the cutting of mangroves in a 4,017-square meter area near his fishpond on April 22.

The Bolinao case, on the other hand, involved Stanley Arizo of Arnedo village who allegedly ordered the cutting of mangroves in a 1,000-square meter area in Barangay Luna on April 14. The Sagip Lingayen, through the environmental law office Tanggol Kalikasan, cited the damage done by mangrove cutting to the natural ecosystem and livelihood (shrimp and oyster fishing) of local communities. The officials and residents of Luna village also opposed the cutting of mangroves because the area is a public domain and a habitat of fish and other marine resources.

Salazar said it was not the DENR but the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources that has jurisdiction over the issue because Arizo reportedly has a fishpond lease agreement (FLA) granted by the BFAR. But Salazar, quoting BFAR Ilocos Director Nestor Domenden, said the FLA was originally granted to another person who passed it on to another until Arizo got hold of the FLA. "Giving an FLA to another person is already a violation of the agreement. Besides, if an FLA holder wanted to expand his fishpond, he needs to get clearance from the BFAR," Salazar said. Severino Salmo III, resources specialist of the Sagip Lingayen, expressed concern about the slow process in the foundation's quest for justice for the mangroves. The cutting down of mangroves is prohibited under Republic Act 8850 or the Philippine Fisheries Code. It is punishable by an imprisonment of six months and a day to six years and a fine.

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