THE Provincial Legal Office is ready to file a motion for reconsideration on the court decision that upheld the order of the environment department to stop a road project that resulted in the illegal cutting of 374 trees in Argao town.
Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega said they will consider filing a motion for reconsideration before the Argao Regional Trial Court (RTC), although the Capitol has yet to receive a copy of the Argao Regional Trial Court’s decision.
Asked why he is representing the town of Argao, Ortega said it is the function of his office to provide legal assistance to local government units that do not have a legal officer.
In an order dated last June 9, Judge Maximo Perez of RTC branch 26 said that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was just performing its mandate to enforce environmental law and only the Supreme Court can stop a lawful action of government agencies.
Argao Cenro chief Flordeliza Geyrozaga issued a cease-and-desist order last March 21 against Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos after 374 trees were illegally cut down to pave the way for the town’s road project within a timberland area in barangay Jampang.
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