Another Isabela village chief shot dead at farm

ILAGAN, Isabela – Another village official was shot dead by still unknown suspects on Aug. 8, barely two weeks after a barangay chairman was slain in one of the interior towns here. Police formally filed last week murder charges against a town councilor and two others for the Aug. 2 killing of a policeman here.

Police said they are still establishing the motives and the identities of the suspects in the killing of councilman Nestor Duque of Barangay Flores, Naguilian town around 10 a.m. Friday August 8.

Supt. Antonio Marallag, police intelligence officer, said the victim and a nephew were walking to their farm when two unidentified men approached them and asked for some assistance, including food.

The victim’s nephew, while on his way to get food and water for the strangers, heard successive shots nearby.

He then rushed back to where he left his uncle only to find him already dead on the ground with traces of gunshot wounds on the head, neck and stomach.

Murder and frustrated murder charges were formally filed before a regional trial court here over the week against Alicia town councilor Erick Bumatay, councilman George Paringit and one Romeo Mariano, suspects in the killing of PO3 Jonathan Abuan and wounding of SPO2 Ludovico Delmindo, both of the Alicia police.

The cops, along with another colleague were reportedly driving back to Alicia proper when their vehicle was suddenly cut by the suspects’ Toyota Innova van. – CL

Sec Atienza sacks DENR chief over illegal logging
ILAGAN, Isabela – Despite opposition, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Joselito Atienza relieved forester Felix Taguba as the provincial environment and natural resources officer.

A 2007 Forester of the Year awardee, Taguba, who described his relief as “without due process,” formally relinquished his post Tuesday, barely two weeks after Atienza ordered his transfer to the DENR regional office in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

“Although I felt that my sudden transfer was unceremonious and tainted with politics, as a good soldier and a public servant, I have to adhere to the order of higher authorities,” said Taguba, who was replaced by one of his subordinates, community environment and natural resources officer Alfredo Almueda, as officer-in-charge.

Atienza’s order came in the wake of reported “policy differences” and lack of coordination on anti-illegal logging activities between Taguba’s office and the provincial government, which reactivated last month its multi-sectoral anti-logging task force amid the reported unabated illegal logging in the province.

Taguba’s sentiments were reportedly also aggravated by Atienza’s issuing last month a deputization order to Gov. Grace Padaca, authorizing her to apprehend and file cases against illegal loggers and confiscate and dispose of illegally cut forest products.

Sources said Taguba felt bypassed by the deputization order despite his “outstanding accomplishments” as the DENR head in this third largest province.

Taguba’s successor even wrote a personal letter to Atienza, declining his appointment, saying, “He could not just take the post of a man who has done so much in the interest of the environment and his staff.” Since 2004, calls for Taguba’s relief led by the Catholic Church here, had mounted due to what was perceived as his inability to contain illegal logging.

Even Padaca herself earlier expressed her disappointment on the performance of the local DENR office, citing reports on rampant illegal cutting of trees in the province.

Taguba, a native of Cagayan Valley, belied these accusations, saying, “Our performance will speak for itself that we were never remiss on our duties in safeguarding the environment even if it cost our jobs and our lives.”

“But I respect the opinion of the Church and the good governor… What’s important here is I have a clear conscience… that we did our job well despite outside pressures,” he said. -- CL