The Department of Justice has designated 10 special prosecutors whose task is to speed up the resolution of complaints involving violations of environmental laws and regulations in environment-critical areas of the country.
Named special prosecutors were Gimarie Fe Pacamara, Liezel Aquiatan, Tofel Austria, Alejandro Daguiso, Katheryn May Penaco-Rojas, Ferdinand Fernandez, Karla Cabel, Charlie Guhit, Monica Liwag and Ma. Richell Oliva.
The appointment of prosecutors came after Oceana, an international organization devoted solely on ocean conservation, appealed to the DoJ last July to create a special prosecutor’s office for protected areas in the country.
In requesting the creation of such office, Oceana cited Section 19 of Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992, which “provides that the Department of Justice shall designate special prosecutors to prosecute violations of laws, rules and regulations in protected areas.”
The Nipas Act defines protected areas as “remarkable areas and biologically important public lands that are habitats of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, biogeographic zones and related ecosystems, whether terrestrial, wetland or marine.”
The DoJ said the special prosecutors would also provide assistance to park rangers and other law enforcers deployed to protected areas especially in the filing of cases and gathering of evidence.
In a statement, Oceana Philippines vice president, lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos said the special prosecutors will strengthen compliance with relevant laws in protected areas.
“Oceana is looking forward to forging partnerships with the Department of Justice, our environment and fisheries agencies, and other stakeholders in promoting awareness and understanding of the urgent need to protect our vulnerable ecosystems and threatened habitats of various species of flora and fauna, which will help in the handling of environmental cases,” Ramos said.
As of last year, there are 240 protected areas in the country while there are also areas designated as World Heritage Sites such as the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Ramsar Sites Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Naujan Lake National Park, Trans-boundary Protected Areas (Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary) and the Asean Heritage Parks of Mt. Apo Natural Park, Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park, and Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park.