By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – A man is facing criminal charges for allegedly burning two hectares of forest land at Sitio Salapion, Barangay Damutan, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental last Monday.
Major Clifford Batadhay, town police chief, said that Lando Teves, 51, of the said village, will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9147 or the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act,” and Presidential Decree No. 705 or “Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.”
Batadhay said the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Kabankalan City, received reports about the said burning and cutting of trees in the area, prompting them to proceed to the area.
CENRO personnel then found timber and saw the destroyed portion of the forest area.
Members of the 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (Nocpmfc) arrested the suspect and turned him over to Hinoba-an Municipal Police Station for custody.
According to Lt. Col. Ryan Manongdo, head of the 2nd Nocpmfc, the suspect was reportedly cutting “lawaan trees” to use it as a base of a motorbanca.
“Cutting of native trees and even burning them are prohibited,” he added.
Manongdo said the suspect might have done if for quite long now based on the extent of the destruction.
He said the suspect was released Wednesday after the lapse of the reglementary detention period, but CENRO will still file the charges.
