Magalong files raps on Pine tree “murderers, torturers”

August 5, 2019 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY – Baguio City mayor Benjamin Magalong who stumbled into at least 45 fully grown Benguet pine trees that were intentionally “killed” at a vacant lot along Legarda Road here last week said “the pine tree torturers and murderers” will have to brace themselves for the full force of the law.
“We are just waiting for the chemical analysis from the DENR on the particular substance used to kill the trees,” Magalong said a few days after conducting a surprise inspection with other city officials where 45 dead pine trees were noticed at the 51.186 square meter lot owned by a firm of the wealthy Filipino-Chinese business family Lao in the city.
Officials found that the 45 pine trees were drilled with a diluted compound at its base “intentionally to kill it slowly”. Government foresters also claim that pine trees are so sensitive that disturbing its based could kill it.
Environment chief Roy Cimatu earlier noticed the “balding” mountain city and ordered the environment department to exert efforts to bring back its old charm as “Pines City”. Magalong said he will personally lodge violations of Presidential Decree 705 against all the officers and board of directors of Gateluck Corporation, the registered juridical owner of the property where the 45 dead pine trees were discovered, after obtaining the chemical analysis from DENR.
“I wish there is a harsher penalty for torture and “murder” of our trees,” he added. The City Mayor also dispelled insinuations that he had already “talked” with the business family, “I never talked to anyone in that company. And I do not have any intention of talking with them,” he said.
Magalong has filed an environmental complaint before the office of the City Prosecutor against the 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, 2019, 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 Sections 226-227.
By filing the complaint, Magalong hopes to halt whatever developments 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 Php5,000.00 penalty for every damaged tree in violation of Section 226 and/or imprisonment of one month and a day to six months. A mall building is seen to rise in the area, acquired only last year by the Gateluck Corporation.
A multi-storey hotel owned by one of the members of the same business family also rests nearby the said lot.

Artemio A. Dumlao/Jessa Mardy Samidan-PIO Baguio/Aileen Refuerzo/ABN