Appeals court grants protection to Naga trees
The Court of Appeals granted the Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) filed by Winley dela Fuente, president of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) of Naga City Central School last Thursday.
The court decision was signed by lawyer Joseph A. Ygnacio, Clerk of Court, 19th Division. The TEPO’s effectivity is good for 72 hours from the date of the receipt of the order.
The order bars the cutting of trees inside the Naga City Central School “until further orders from the courts.”
A hearing is scheduled on Nov. 17 if the petitioner wants an extension of the TEPO. The TEPO was filed by Dela Fuente last Nov. 7.
On that day, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) of Naga City resumed the cutting of trees after an amended permit was issued to them.
Criminal charges
“Even if 58 trees were already cut, I believe that everything will follow. This is not yet the end. We still have more things to be done,¨ dela Fuente said.
The PTA president said he plans to file a permanent protection order not just to cover the 21 saved trees located near the planned track oval project but to all the trees within Naga City.
Dela Fuente said he will also study the possibility of filing criminal charges against the respondents cited in the TEPO.
The respondents consist of Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong, Cenro Naga officer Engr. Ma. Obdulla Lescano, Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio and Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Running priest Fr. Robert Reyes also declined the invitation by the DENR-7 to attend the planting of 3,000 trees to replace the 58 trees cut to make way for the track oval project.
Dialogue
“I remain pat on my position that the cutting of trees is no casual and superficial matter. The cutting of trees is not a ‘matter of compliance,” with a government project,” Fr. Reyes said.
“I maintain with profound sadness and indignation that the cutting of trees is a serious crime. Each tree cut is a count of murder. Thus, if there are 58 trees cut, there also are 58 counts of murder,” he added.
Reyes said he received a call from Environment Secretary Ramon Paje to attend a dialogue next week.
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