Six persons have been charged with violations of an environmental law when they were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for reportedly occupying protected land in Rizal.
NBI Officer-In-Charge Director Eric B. Distor identified those arrested and charged as Angelica Sanchez, Rose Marie Solomon, Daniel Solana, Romeo Enriquez, Maria Clarisa Camanguan, and Emmanuel dela Cruz.
In a statement, the NBI said they were arrested by operatives of the NBI’s Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD) last Thursday, April 22, after being caught occupying with permanent structures on a protected landscape in Barangay San Rafael in Rodriguez, Rizal.
“Subjects were presented for inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice the following day for violation of Section 20 (n) and (o) of Republic Act No. 7586, as amended by R.A. 11038 otherwise known as the ‘National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992’ and Section 81 (formerly 71) of Presidential Decree No. 705, otherwise known as ‘Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines’, as amended,” the NBI said.
It said the operation was conducted on request of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Rizal (PENRO-Rizal).
PENRO-Rizal informed the NBI that “certain individuals were illegally occupying and constructed permanent structures on the protected landscape situated in Sitio Wawa, Barangay San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal,” it said.
“Acting promptly, OIC-Director Distor directed the NBI-Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD) to conduct an investigation and ocular inspection within the target area,” it also said.