IN E.B. MAGALONA
Charcoal, lumber seized
from forest reserve area

An estimated 850 sacks of charcoal were recently taken from the forest reserve area of Brgy. Canlusong, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, which is prohibited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, a report from the town Environment and Natural Resources Office said.

ENR officer Ariel Malunes yesterday said 109 prime species of trees with an average of 34 centimeters, were cut by poachers and were converted either into charcoal or lumber.

Aside from the 850 sacks of charcoal taken from the forest reserve area, which is part of the Northern Negros Natural Park, the Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation Team of E.B. Magalona, whose majority of members are serving as volunteers and residents of Brgy. Canlusong, also confiscated 150 board feet of square lumber and timber.

Malunes said the municipal government of E.B. Magalona has recommended to the DENR the cancellation of the issuance of charcoal permits to residents in the place.

Even the Task Force Ilahas has noted that the issuance of charcoal permits by DENR is being abused by those engaged in the business of selling charcoal.

They usually apply for a permit to cut trees and convert them into charcoal from private property. In reality, however, the trees being cut came from the forest reserve area, TFI investigations show.

Malunes said the DENR has no capacity to check on the origin of all charcoal being sold in the market. By having a moratorium on the issuance of charcoal permits in E.B. Magalona, we may be able to trace the origin of the charcoal, he added.

Board Member Reynaldo Depasucat, chairman of the committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan, has also proposed a resolution aimed at addressing the unabated illegal charcoal-making in the province.*GPB

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'Don't take
reshuffing negatively'

Bacolod City police director, Senior Supt. Pedro Merced, yesterday said he has high expectations from the newly installed police precinct commanders detailed at several police stations in Bacolod City Wednesday.

Merced said Chief Insp. Jimmy Fortaleza, who was formerly assigned at the City Mobile Group, has proven his worth by performing well on the case of an architect and an engineer who were murdered in Brgy. Bata on Jan. 2.

Fortaleza, also a former Police Precinct 3 commander, was assigned as Police Precinct 1 commander replacing Senior Insp. Edel Jose Manzano who was transferred to Police Precinct 7.

He said he had "sacrificed" Senior Insp. Joeresty Coronica by pulling him out as the chief of the Intelligence and Investigation Branch and transferred him to Police Precinct 3 as its commander. Merced said he has not received reports alleging there were relieved personnel who had questioned the re-shuffling.

Merced said he is asking his men not to take the reshuffling in a negative way because he only wants to take note of their performance when they are assigned in different areas of responsibility.

Meanwhile, the Intelligence Training Team from Camp Crame yesterday conducted a conference among selected BCPO personnel to upgrade and update their knowledge on the new techniques in conducting intelligence operation, Merced said.

The intelligence team was composed of Chief Insp. Felix Servita of the Research Directorate for Intelligence and Senior Insp. Mary Grace Madaya, Foreign Liaison Division, both in Camp Crame, he added.*DMG

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ELECTRIC WIRE THEFT
Cops seeking assistance
of scrap iron shop owners

Bacolod police director, Senior Supt. Perdro Merced, yesterday asked the cooperation of scrap owners in Bacolod City to help the police in stopping the continued pilferage of electrical wires.

Merced said the culprits would not be encouraged to steal electrical wires if there are no buyers who are willing to purchase them, a press release from City Hall said.

The police chief held a meeting with second hand and scrap iron shop owners Wednesday afternoon at the Bacolod City Police Office together with Executive Assistants Cris Palo and Nelson Sedillo, and representatives from the City Engineer's Office, Globe Telecom, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, and Central Negros Electric Cooperative.

During the meeting, Palo informed those gathered that recently, a 13-year-old boy was caught stealing electrical wires around the Bacolod Public Plaza.

Merced said the police will not hesitate to file cases against those caught selling wires including those caught buying them.

The City Engineer's Office had reported that about P462,500 worth of wires were stolen from tourism lights of the city last year. The figures were based on police blotter reports covering March to December 2005, the press release added.*

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