DENR to sue Intramuros chief despite apology for cutting trees

MANILA, Philippines – Sometimes an apology can't get you off a legal hook. Intramuros Administration (IA) chief Maria Ana "Bambi" Harper had already apologized for having 29 trees cut in front of the Manila Cathedral. But the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will still press charges against her. "The issue is not between Secretary (Lito) Atienza and Administrator Harper," Corazon Davis, executive director of the DENR-National Capital Region, said on Wednesday. "The issue is clearly between Ms. Harper and the law. The IA administrator should in no way look at our decision to prosecute as a personal attack against her. The DENR being the principal agency responsible for the protection of our trees and the rest of the environment, we are duty-bound to file charges against violators of the law no matter who they are.’" On Tuesday, several newspapers reported Harper as declaring: "I will apologize, I am sorry." Harper had earlier denied ordering the cutting of the trees, which included nine narra and two mahogany, both considered endangered. She said shes merely told the contractor to move the trees elsewhere at Plaza Roma. She also accused Atienza of hatching a "politically motivated" scheme against her. She said Atienza had wanted jurisdiction over the IA, which has its own charter, when he was still serving as Manila mayor. In response Davis said: "We were never remiss in our efforts to assist the IA in its purpose of moving the trees so that park goers can get a better view of the cathedral. From the time that Ms. Harper’s office requested DENR approval last May 22, our office had not failed to show her people how 10 of the trees which are considered premium should be balled to preserve its roots. Instead, the trees were ruthlessly cut down in violation of four of 10 rules set in their permit." In addition, Davis said, Harper’s workers cut 29 trees, not just the 27 covered by the permit. They also failed to coordinate with the local barangay office as required in the permit. Harper will be charged for violating Presidential Decree 95, "Requiring the planting of trees in certain places and penalizing unauthorized cutting, destruction, damaging and injuring of certain trees, plants and vegetation." If found guility, Harper may serve a two-year jail term or pay a fine of P5,000 or both. - D'Jay Lazaro, GMANews.TV