20 ‘capitalists’ behind illegal logging in Ecija

By Liam Anacleto

CABANATUAN CITY  – At least 20 individuals have been financing illegal logging operations in Nueva Ecija, where there are at least six identified hotspots, according to Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Leovino Ignacio, DENR provincial environment and natural resources officer, said the “logging capitalists” are the ones providing logistical support to illegal loggers in hauling forest products from the mountains to buyers in the lowlands.

“By our count, there are at least 20 of them operating in four towns, or five capitalists per town,” Ignacio said.

The DENR has identified the towns of Bongabon, Carranglan, Gabaldon, Gen. Tinio, Laur and Pantabangan as illegal logging hotspots.

Ignacio said the financiers normally provide an allowance – an average of P15,000 – to each of the illegal loggers before they go to the mountains to fell trees. The illegal loggers leave this money  with their families before they go logging for at least one month.

These financiers are working in cahoots with syndicates believed to be behind the twin assassination attempts on a forest ranger last May and June.

Ignacio said forest ranger Edgardo de Luna has been transferred to Cagayan Valley under heavy security upon orders of DENR Secretary Ramon Paje and upon the recommendation of DENR regional executive director Maximo Dichoso. 

De Luna, 49, of Barangay Bantug Bulalo here, was shot in the back of the neck by motorcycle-riding men last June 14 while on his way home on board his motorcycle.

It was the second slay attempt on De Luna who was also attacked by a lone gunman last May 23 while aboard a passenger jeep in Barangay Bitas this city.

Ignacio said De Luna angered members of the syndicate operating in Bongabon town following a series of successful anti-illegal logging operations there.

“This is a big syndicate,” he said, adding many were hurt by the DENR’s campaign against illegal logging of which De Luna is in the forefront, particularly in Bongabon.