Acting Ombudsman Casimiro orders the filing of charges against Napocor officials
03 July 2011, source: Ombudsman Website
ACTING OMBUDSMAN Orlando C. Casimiro has disapproved the findings of the Prosecutors Office of Puerto Princesa that dismissed the criminal complaint filed by Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn against officials of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR).
Stand charged with violation of Section 94 of Republic Act 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998) are NAPOCOR Palawan Projects represented by the President Cyril C. Del Callar and Project Manager Romualdo Consigna along with private respondents Harold Laureta, Francisco Madera and Russel Ferrer of S.L. Development Construction Corporation.
In the Review issued by the Preliminary Investigation and Administrative Adjudication Bureau (PARB), complainant was able to establish that the testimonies of DENR-CENRO employees are sufficient to prove the cutting of 12,000 square meters of mangrove area at Brgy. Lucbuan, Puerto Princesa. The cutting on May 2008 of mangrove trees by the NAPOCOR was for the purpose of installing transmission lines and towers.
Acting Ombudsman stated that the testimony is sufficient basis to proceed against the respondents for violation of Section 94 Chapter VI of RA 8550 which penalizes the conversion of mangroves into fishponds or for any other purpose.
Moreover, it was established that Laureta, Madera and Ferrer were identified as those who caused the cutting of mangrove trees and who were present during the seizure of 1,102 pieces of Bakawan timber. This is coupled by the fact that Del Callar and Consigna in their capacity as officials of NAPOCOR did not oppose nor reject such illegal cutting and conversion.
They should thus be held for trial before the Sandiganbayan.
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