Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation-Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD) have arrested five suspects for illegal occupation of a protected area in Antipolo City.
NBI OIC-Director Eric B. Distor identified Subjects as Milanio Resureccion, Zernan Villafranca, Jojo Mallorca, Marwin Lleavanes, and Erwin Intela.
OIC-Distor said that on January 12, 2021, a request from DENR-PENR Rizal was sent to the NBI-EnCD requesting assistance and joint operation in Sitio San Ysiro, Brgy. San Jose, Antipolo City.
The area located within the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL) has illegal occupants who constructed infrastructure without Protected Area Management Board clearance.
During the verification and inquiries, a report was received that a certain “ELIO”, one of the five identified illegal occupants within UMRBPL, is allegedly involved in selling the other portions of the land also falling within UMRBPL.
With this, poseur-buyers transacted with “ELIO” later identified as Resureccion wherein a 1,000-sqm lot within Sitio San Ysiro, Brgy. San Jose, Antipolo City was agreed to be bought for Php150,000.00. The parties also agreed that the poseur buyers will pay Php20,000.00 as down payment.
Operatives saw that there are permanent structures found within the UMRBPL and they were able to verify the existence of the five structures owned by Resureccion (structure 1), Gigi and Junjun Mutya with actual occupant Villafranca (structure 2), Mallorca (structure 3), James Bautista with actual occupant Lleavanes structure 4), and John Juarez with actual occupant Intela (structure 5).
Upon communication with the DENR-PENRO Rizal, the entrapment operation was conducted on January 21, 2021 resulting in the arrest of subject Resureccion after receiving the boodle money as down payment.
Occupants of the illegal structures were likewise arrested after failing to show any document claiming title or right to occupy a portion of the UMRBPL.
A certification from the DENR-PENRO Rizal was likewise issued identifying that the above-named Subjects are not authorized to conduct, erect, or maintain the structure built within the same area.
Charges for violation of Section 20 (n) and (o) of RA 7586 as amended by RA 11038 and violation of Section 81 of PD 705 were filed against the Subjects before the Office of the Prosecutor General, Department of Justice.