Is the Joint FACT-FINDING COMMITTEES against Illegal Logging and Illegal Mining Operations Kicking and Alive?

President BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By JONG CADION  

PAGADIAN CITY (June 30, 2013) – Nine months ago, the three Executive Departments of Justice, Interior and Local Government and of the Environment and Natural Resources have jointly created Fact-Finding Committees to handle cases related to Illegal Logging and Illegal Mining activities.

Bishop Antonio Ablon

Many environmental sectors were happy on the immediate action done by the concerned officials following the directive of P-NOY efforts to combat and eradicate such illegal operations.

Recently, these environmentalists are wondering whether the created Joint Fact-Finding Committees are working or not.

“I did not heard of any Joint Fact-Finding Committees result done by them, correct me if I am wrong,” Advocate for Peace (Adpeace) convenor Bishop Antonio Ablon of the Philippine Independent Church said.

  

The creation was published in the website of the DOJ dated November 10, 2013.

(To read please click the link URL below: http://www.doj.gov.ph/news.html?title=DOJ,%20DILG%20and%20DENR%20create%20JOINT%20FACT-FINDING%20COMMITTEES%20TO%20ERADICATE%20ILLEGAL%20LOGGING%20AND%20ILLEGAL%20MINING%20OPERATIONS&newsid=137#sthash.yVwRXHV2.dpuf )

The creation of Fact-Finding Committees was done pursuant to a directive from President BENIGNO S. AQUINO III for the three Departments "to meet and plan to intensify the implementation" of the anti-illegal logging and anti-illegal mining campaign, and to "ensure the conviction" of those who violated the law. 

Under Joint Department Order (JDO) Nos. 001-2012 and 002- 2012 (on illegal logging and illegal mining, respectively), Fact-Finding Committees were created and signed by Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on October 10, 2012.

These are also composed of officials, lawyers, investigators and prosecutors from the three Departments and the concerned agencies and offices under their respective jurisdiction like the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the National Prosecution Service (NPS), and Philippine National Police (PNP). 

They are mandated to investigate, collect evidence, build cases and file appropriate charges against those involved or responsible for illegal logging and illegal mining operations, including incidents of violence, or killing those charged with enforcing and implementing the government's campaign against such illicit activities, or those otherwise involved in the fight against illegal logging and illegal mining.

To ensure accountability and effective performance of said Committees, the Joint Department Orders (JDOs) provide for the submission of monthly reports to the Secretaries of the DENR, DILG and DOJ, for onward transmission to the Office of the President.  

The President issued the directive after noting not just the public health and safety hazards and environmental degradation that result from such illicit activities, but also the violence and bloodshed that trail the government's efforts to combat and eradicate such illegal operations.

DOJ Sec. De Lima

"These Fact-Finding Committees, which directly report to us three Cabinet Secretaries and, through us, to the President, were created to ensure that the investigations and the case build-up are effective in rooting out those responsible for the persistence of these illegal operations. We want to ensure that everyone who profits from these activities, including and especially those who resort to violence against law enforcers and anti-illegal logging and anti-illegal mining activists, are all brought to justice,” Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima said.

“We fear, as it has indeed been reported, that the reason why these illicit operations still persist is because there are strategically positioned government agents, officers or officials who protect these operations. If they think they are untouchable, by the creation and operation of these Committees, we intend to disabuse them of such notion," DOJ Secretary warned.