De Lima: Even 'big fish' will be probed for illegal logging, mining

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday assured the public that the two newly-created fact-finding committees against illegal logging and mining would also focus on catching the "big fish" and not only small workers. The separate fact-finding committees are composed of officials from three agencies: the Department of Justice, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Interior and Local Government. "Kasama sa fact-finding investigation ang hindi lang pagtukoy kung sino ang [directly] involved sa illegal mining and logging, kasama lalo na ang nasa likod nito o ang big fishes. Hindi lang mga pahinante o maliliit na tao," De Lima told reporters in a chance interview in Manila. In a press release last week, De Lima had already warned the people behind such illegal activities. “If they think they are untouchable, by the creation and operation of these committees we intend to disabuse them of such notion,” she said. De Lima said the two bodies were formed to help local authorities in ridding communities of illegal logging and mining. "Very broad and comprehensive ang mandate [against illegal logging and mining]... Kaysa naman iwan namin sa local authorities na kulang ang kakayahan, we thought of having these committees," De Lima said on Monday. She said the committees would be tasked to draw up a "priority list" of which areas and personalities would be the center of their investigations. De Lima said the investigators will also touch on the reported incidents of violence against and killings of local officials, environmentalists, forest rangers, and DENR personnel helping in the government's anti-illegal mining and logging campaign. The members of the fact-finding committee on illegal logging are Environment Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio Jr., Environment officer in charge Assistant Secretary Marlo Mendoza, lawyer Ranny Spencer Palisoc of the DILG, National Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Reynaldo Remo, Philippine National Police (PNP) Superintendent Wilson Caubat, PNP Superintendent Henry Libat, and National Prosecution Service (NPS) Assistant State Prosecutor Gil Marie Pacamarra. Meanwhile, members of the fact-finding committee on illegal mining are Pacamarra, DENR Undersecretary Ignacio, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Leo Jasareno, lawyer Alvin Giolagon of the DILG, PNP Superintendent Danilo Pelisco and NBI head agent Sixto Coloma. — BM, GMA News