Ombudsman indicts Baguio Congressman.
For the Office of the Ombudsman, there should be someone who will answer the uprooting of about 300 pine trees worth P10.3 million in Tuba, Benguet and that should be Baguio City Representative Nicasio Aliping Jr. and the three others.
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The Ombudsman has already ordered the filing of charges against Aliping along with the other individuals for the alleged conducting of earth drilling activities that caused the uprooting of the pine trees.
According to the Ombudsman, the individuals violated the Sections 77 and 78 of the Revised Forestry code as a joint resolution was signed by Omdusman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordering for the charges against Aliping and certain William Go, Bernard Capuyan and Romeo Aquino before the Sandiganbayan.
According to the investigation conducted by the Environmental Ombudsman, Aliping and the other private individuals used heavy equipment as they are initiating the “earth moving activites” in Sitio Pongayon, Mount Sto. Tomas in Tuba, Benguet in April 2014.
Moreover, it was found out that 293 pine trees were uprooted and 415 Benguet pine trees sampling were uprooted due to the drilling activities.
The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR), the complainant, reported that the alleged illegal activities resulted to the total damage of P10.3 million rooting also to the turbidity of the water supply in the area.
According to the Ombudsman, Mt. Santo Tomas was declared and supported by the DENR as a forest reserve, cannot be converted into a private property as found in the investigation that the earth drilling activities were conducted as part of the developing Aliping’s land property in the area.
The Ombudsman also revealed that it was Aliping who admitted that there are no permits issued for the said activities, adding that no documents were presented showing the ownership of the property.
According to the ruling, Aliping’s use of the three backhoes or heavy equipment for the earth moving activities were done without authority.
It is clear in the Forestry code that it is illegal for any person “to cut, gather and collect, remove timber or other forest products from forest land” without being issued with authority.