Malacañang has warned about the possible dismissal of mayors allegedly involved in illegal mining and logging operations in their towns.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said mayors allegedly protecting such illegal activities would have "blood in your hands."
(OPS / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Well, mga mayors ‘no, nandiyan po kayo para ipatupad po ang batas hindi para kayo ang lumabag ng batas. Hindi po dapat ginagamit na para sa negosyo ang inyong posisyon (Mayors are in power to enforce the law, not to violate the law. You should not use your position to engage in businesses)," he said during a televised press briefing Tuesday.
"Nakita naman po natin ang danyos na dulot ng illegal logging at illegal mining lalung-lalo na diyan sa probinsiya ng Cagayan, you will have blood in your hands kung puprotektahan ninyo po ang mga illegal miners at illegal loggers (You've seen the data on the impact of illegal logging and mining in the province of Cagayan. You will have blood in your hans if you protect the illegal miners and loggers)," he said.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año earlier bared that some mayors were allegedly involved in illegal logging and mining in their areas of jurisdiction.
Año raised suspicion that some mayors were in cahoots with illegal loggers and miners in exchange of financial support for their candidacies. He said he hopes voters would reject public servants who are allegedly involved in illegal activities.
Shortly after the catastrophic flooding in Cagayan, President Duterte ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to probe illegal mining and logging in the region.
The Palace later admitted that there might have been lapses in law enforcement in preventing such illegal activities in Cagayan. The police force has been advised to strictly enforce the country's law against illegal mining. "They have limited enforcement so I would accept that we need to better enforce and implement the laws banning illegal mining even in secluded areas,” Roque said.