By Paulo Loreto Lim

The Negros Occidental Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) recently announced three cases were filed against violators of environmental laws within the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) and Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park.

According to Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Edgardo Rostata, two of the accused were found to be in violation of RA 7586, or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992.

Both NNNP cases are based on alleged violations of Section 20 of the law, which prohibits the construction or maintenance of any of kind of structure without an appropriate permit and bars individuals from taking possession of any plants or animals without an appropriate permit.

An additional case was brought forward in violation of RA 9154, or the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park Act of 2001.

Last month, an administrative case was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against Rostata, Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer and Protected Area Superintendent Concordio Remoroza, along with several “John Does” on allegations of negligence regarding the proliferation of illegal structures within the NNNP./PLL, WDJ