Man convicted for cutting mangroves

A RESIDENT of Barangay, Suay, Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental pleaded guilty of environmental crime and was sent to prison by the Regional Trial Court Branch 56.

Alfredo Cordero was the subject of a complaint filed by the Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Officer of Kabankalan City now PENR Officer of Negros Occidental Edgardo M. Rostata.

Cordero violated Section 77 of Presidential Decree No. 705 (Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines) for cutting and gathering bakhawan and bungalon trees (two species of mangroves) at Binicuil River.

The volume of cut mangroves is equivalent to 50.82 cubic meters with an estimated value of P50,820 based on current market value of P1,000 pesos per cubic meter. (DENR6-PENRO-Negros Occidental)