Make illegal logging heinous crime, Paje urges Congress
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Feb 29, 2012, 6:40:39 PM2/29/12
to Philippine environment conservation
Make illegal logging heinous crime, Paje urges Congress
Wednesday, 29 February 2012 22:07 Jonathan Mayuga / Correspondent
http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/23934-make-illegal-logging-heinous-crime-paje-urges-congress
BECAUSE of the gruesome crimes committed against defenders of the
environment, particularly forest protection workers, by “environmental
criminals,” Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje has strongly urged
Congress to reclassify illegal logging as a heinous crime.
Illegal loggers and those who kill the defenders of the country’s
environment should be meted out the death penalty, he said.
Paje made the call after the death of another employee of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Agusan del Sur by
suspected illegal loggers.
Jaime Diez, 45, DENR tree marker, was shot dead inside his house in
Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, on February 22. Two weeks before, Melania
Dirain, 47, forestry specialist, was gunned down inside her office in
Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, on February 7.
Earlier, President Aquino directed the DENR, the Department of the
Interior and Local Government, the Department of National Defense, the
Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to
heighten the campaign against illegal logging, including the
protection of forest law enforcers.
“Illegal logging has spawned the culture of impunity that has befallen
upon our forest protection workers,” Paje said.
According to Paje, two other DENR field personnel were killed in two
separate cases this month.
“Diez and Dirain are just a tiny fraction of a long list of
environmental protectors who sacrificed their lives in the line of
duty. And that list is getting longer by the month,” Paje stressed.
“Drug pushers and economic saboteurs are slapped with capital
punishments for destroying lives and families. With more reason
illegal loggers should be meted out with the same punishment because
the death which they cause not only destroys lives and families but
communities as well with every tree felled by their chainsaws,” Paje
said.
There is a bill pending in the House of Representatives declaring
illegal logging a heinous crime.
House Bill 00744 filed by Rep. Jane Tan Castro of Capiz on July 7,
2010, seeks to make capital punishment the penalty for illegal
logging. The bill also seeks the restoration of the death penalty for
capital offenses as defined in the Revised Penal Code.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012 22:07 Jonathan Mayuga / Correspondent
http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/23934-make-illegal-logging-heinous-crime-paje-urges-congress
BECAUSE of the gruesome crimes committed against defenders of the
environment, particularly forest protection workers, by “environmental
criminals,” Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje has strongly urged
Congress to reclassify illegal logging as a heinous crime.
Illegal loggers and those who kill the defenders of the country’s
environment should be meted out the death penalty, he said.
Paje made the call after the death of another employee of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Agusan del Sur by
suspected illegal loggers.
Jaime Diez, 45, DENR tree marker, was shot dead inside his house in
Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, on February 22. Two weeks before, Melania
Dirain, 47, forestry specialist, was gunned down inside her office in
Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, on February 7.
Earlier, President Aquino directed the DENR, the Department of the
Interior and Local Government, the Department of National Defense, the
Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to
heighten the campaign against illegal logging, including the
protection of forest law enforcers.
“Illegal logging has spawned the culture of impunity that has befallen
upon our forest protection workers,” Paje said.
According to Paje, two other DENR field personnel were killed in two
separate cases this month.
“Diez and Dirain are just a tiny fraction of a long list of
environmental protectors who sacrificed their lives in the line of
duty. And that list is getting longer by the month,” Paje stressed.
“Drug pushers and economic saboteurs are slapped with capital
punishments for destroying lives and families. With more reason
illegal loggers should be meted out with the same punishment because
the death which they cause not only destroys lives and families but
communities as well with every tree felled by their chainsaws,” Paje
said.
There is a bill pending in the House of Representatives declaring
illegal logging a heinous crime.
House Bill 00744 filed by Rep. Jane Tan Castro of Capiz on July 7,
2010, seeks to make capital punishment the penalty for illegal
logging. The bill also seeks the restoration of the death penalty for
capital offenses as defined in the Revised Penal Code.
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