Ombudsman indicts Baguio congressman for uprooting of 300 pine trees

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of charges against Baguio City Representative Nicasio Aliping, Jr. and three others for allegedly conducting earth drilling activities that caused the uprooting of about 300 pine trees worth P10.3 million in Tuba, Benguet.

In a joint resolution recently signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Aliping and private individuals William Go, Bernard Capuyan and Romeo Aquino were ordered charged before the Sandiganbayan with violation of Sections 77 and 78 of the Revised Forestry Code.

Based on the investigation of the Environmental Ombudsman, Aliping and the three other respondents conducted "earthmoving activities" using heavy equipment in Sitio Pongayon, Mount Sto. Tomas, in Tuba, Benguet sometime in April 2014.

The Ombudsman said 293 pine trees were uprooted and 415 Benguet pine tree samplings w3ere damaged by the drilling activities.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which served as the complainant, estimated the total damage brought by the alleged illegal earth drilling activities at P10.3 million.

The Ombudsman said the activities also caused the turbidity of the water supply in the area.

The Ombudsman investigation revealed that the earth drilling activities were conducted as part of developing Aliping's land property in the area.

The Ombudsman sided with the DENR that Mt. Santo Tomas, a declared forest reserve, cannot be converted into a private property.

The Ombudsman said it was Alipio himself who admitted that no permits had been issued for the activities.

It added that no documents were presented showing ownership of the property.

Alipio allegedly undertook the activities through the construction corporations owned by Go, Capuyan and Aquino. 

“It is clear as daylight that the cutting of trees and other earthmoving activities were done without authority as Aliping’s use of the three backhoes/heavy equipment in his earthmoving activity is undisputed," the ruling read.

Under the Revised Forestry Code, it is illegal for any person "to cut, gather, collect, remove timber or other forest products from forest land" without any authority.

Morales revived the Office of the Environmental Ombudsman in 2012 to handle complaints involving violations of environmental laws committed by public officials and employees. Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera currently serves as the Environmental Ombudsman. —ALG, GMA News