DENR 7 Sues 21 Company Execs for Illegal Tree Cutting

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 has filed criminal cases Monday against 21 members of the board of directors and key officers of three corporations, a lot owner, and a steward before the Toledo City Prosecutor’s Office over the cutting without a tree cutting permit of at least 982 trees in Barangay Talavera, Toledo City for a solar energy project.

The criminal complainants were for violating section 77 of Presidential Decree (PD) 705, or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines as amended by Executive Order No. 277 and as renumbered by Republic Act 7161 in relation to Executive Order No. 23.

In a charge sheet signed by Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer in Cebu City Raul Pasoc, which was received by the Toledo City Prosecutor’s Office, the respondents were nine board directors and key officers of Sunasia Energy Inc. (SEI), namely, Noel Cariño, chairman; Ma. Theresa Capellan, president; Cheerelyn Barrameda, treasurer; Ulysses Bautista, secretary; Diosdado Capellan, Holger Schenk, Godofredo Jalasco, Enrique Guanio, and Marcus Joel Ramos, all with principal address at 902 Paragon Plaza, EDSA cor. Reliance St., Mandaluyong Manila.

Also charged were nine board members and key officers of Sta. Clara International Corp., namely, Nicandro Linao, president; Irma Linao, vice president-treasurer; Atty. Rio Ventura, corporate secretary; Asisclo Gonzaga, special adviser; Carlos Hadap, executive vice president; Nobukazu Kotake, senior vice president-operations; Ulysses Bautista, vice president for business development; Miguel Carlos Linao, and Oscar Batol, all with principal address at 2/F Highway 54 Plaza, EDSA Wack-wack, Mandaluyong City, Manila.

Included in the case were First Toledo Solar Energy Corp. represented by its general manager Engr. Sammy Baybay with office address in Talavera Toledo City; Gino Baltao of No.1, Col. Martelino St., Heroes Hills, Quezon City, Manila; and Allan Navales of Hacienda Baltao, Talavera, Toledo City.

Pasoc issued a cease and desist order (CDO) last Oct. 28 directing SEI, through its project manager Jose Enrique Tolentino, to immediately stop the further destruction of trees.

However, a week after the two CDOs issued by CENRO Cebu City and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7, the inspecting team noted they continued the operations.

In a statement, DENR 7 Regional Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said, “We continue to be very vigilant and mindful on certain activities that harm and destroy our environment and natural resources.”

“We will not hesitate to file the appropriate case if warranted on those individuals who desecrate our environment,” Montejo said.

The total volume of trees cut is approximately 2,190 cubic meters or equivalent to 928,560 board feet with an estimated cost of Php 18.5 million.

One board foot is computed at Php 20.

The EMB 7, which issued the environmental compliance certificate numbered ECC-OL-2015-0025 to First Solar Energy Corp., came out a notice of violation (NOV) last Nov. 2 signed by EMB7 Regional Director William Cuñado.

Based on the memorandum addressed to Pasoc by Environment and Natural Resources Office Toledo City supervisor Lutheran Hernando, about 982 trees were illegally cut including one Lamio tree with a diameter measuring five meters and believed to be a century old tree.

Other tree species include tipolo, pangantoon, bangkal, bagalnga, lanutan, acacia, narra, mahogany and gmelina.

SAEI, which developed the area to make way for a solar project within a 113-hectare in Brgy. Talavera, Toledo City failed to show a tree cutting permit when inspectors from DENR-7’s enforcement division, CENRO Cebu City, Environment and Natural Resources Office Toledo City station went there last Oct. 26. (PNA) RMA/EB/PR/SSC