Magalong files suit vs firm for ‘poisoning’ pine trees

By Jessa Mardy Samidan

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong filed an environmental complaint before the Office of the City Prosecutor against a private landowner for using “poisonous or toxic substance” to "intentionally kill" 45 fully grown Benguet pine trees along Legarda Road.  

In a copy of the four-page affidavit dated August 2, Magalong pointed that Gateluck Corporation, the owner of the lot, should be held accountable "for every tree damaged and for every act in violation of City Ordinance 18, series of 2016 or the Environmental Code of Baguio City" particularly Section 226-227. 

Magalong personally inspected the lot on July 24 where the trees were poisoned based on a report from the Forest and Watershed Management Division of the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) which stated, "that subject Benguet pine trees were deliberately damaged to death as evidenced by presence of numerous drilled holes at the lower trunk of the trees. The holes were utilized to infuse poisonous or toxic substance destroying and killing immediately said trees.”

In his affidavit, Magalong said boring by drilling holes on the tree trunks is an act to deliberately cause damage and death of pine trees which is in blatant violation of the city's Environment Code.

Magalong said CEPMO has discovered that the corporation intends to develop the property and do some construction activities thereat as evidenced by the application for an excavation and ground preparation permit by their contractor before the City Buildings and Architectures Office which was returned due to certain deficiencies.
"There is therefore motive on the part of Gateluck Corporation through its directors/officers to kill the 45 Benguet pine trees in order for them to realize their developmental plans," Magalong stated in his affidavit. 

By filing the complaint, Magalong hopes to halt whatever development planned by Gateluck Corporation over its 5,186 square meter private lot. The mayor also announced his plan to have the registration of the corporation cancelled by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The city's Environment Code provides P5,000 penalty for every damaged tree in violation of Section 226 and/or imprisonment of one month and a day to six months.

CEPMO reported that the subject trees are fully matured and are naturally grown without indications of infestation unlike other pine trees infested by Ips Calligraphus, which may have triggered death at a slow pace.
The 45 pine trees were measured to have a total volume of 45.18 cubic meters, each tree bores a diameter of ¼ inch drilled holes with 4 inches depth.