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How about logging clients of Malacañang

Militant group said DENR only running after small time loggers
How about Palace’s big time logging clients?

The left-leaning fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday said government was only running after small time loggers and consciously spared big time logging corporations from its’ campaign to punish corporations and vested interests behind the flash floods and landslides which killed more than 1,000 people in Quezon and Aurora provinces last month.

Obviously, the group was referring to separate cases to be filed by the national government against three mayors identified with the ruling administration party Lakas-CMD, an ex-congressman and a barangay captain.

“ How about the big logging clients of Malacañang in Aurora and Quezon provinces. Are they not responsible for the destruction of environment and loss of human lives and livelihood?” Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said in a press statement.

Pamalakaya’s Corpuz noted that the six big logging corporations operating in Quezon and Aurora, whose permits were approved since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001 were spared from the anti-logging campaign of the national government.

Corpuz said the logging corporations, which were not included in the anti-logging campaign of the government constituted the group “ Survivor Six”, which is composed of Green Circles Corp. (30,000 hectares in General Nakar), International Hardwood and Veneer Corporation (13,527 hectares in Mauban, Quezon), Timberland Forest Products (34,660 hectares in Gen. Nakar, Quezon), Industries Development Corp. (48,777 hectares in Aurora province), RCC Timber Co. (23,140 hectares in Aurora) and Top Lite Corp. (8,630 hectares in Aurora).

“ These log struck companies were not blamed by Secretary Mike Defensor for their widespread logging operations in Aurora and Quezon. Simply because, these six logging giants are dear clients of present occupants in Malacañang,” Corpuz added.

Corpuz said the supposed charging of criminal and administrative charges by the government to the three mayors, ex-congressman and a barangay captain was only part of the cheap publicity stint of Malacañang and that President Arroyo was not really after big time logging syndicates which managed to obtain legal permits from the Office of the President and the DENR.

“ President Arroyo and her past environmental secretaries are criminally liable for the massive death and destruction in Aurora and Quezon provinces. The Office of the President and the DENR deserved public outrage and wholesale condemnation, nothing more, nothing less”, Pamalakaya said.

On January 2001, the government allowed International Hardwood and Veneer Corp. to operate on the 13,527 hectares of forest areas in Mauban, Quezon and on November 12, 2002, the national government through the DENR approved the logging operation of Timberland Forest Products covering 34, 660 hectares in General Nakar, Quezon.

Pamalakaya said President Arroyo also approved the application for logging operations of Industries Development Corp. and RCC Timber Corporation on December 5, 2001 covering Aurora province through the IFMA. The two logging companies were allowed to cover 48, 877 hectares and 23,140 hectares respectively.

On July 9, 2002, the DENR approved the logging permit of Top Lite Corp. also in Aurora, which covered 8,630 hectares. While ex-DENR secretary Elisea Gozun suspended the permit for quite sometime, new environment secretary Michael Defensor overturned the decision and lifted the suspension two weeks ago. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:27 | link | comments |

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