Pagadian City, July 19 (PIA) -- Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje has lauded the reactivation of the
office of the Environmental Ombudsman, stressing the move has given the citizens’ environmental rights a
more prominent position in the Aquino administration’s crusade against graft
and corruption.
“By resurrecting the office of the Environmental Ombudsman, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has made,
in one stroke, protecting the citizens’ environmental rights a centerpiece of
her agency’s mission,” Paje said.
Reiterating his gratitude for the Ombudsman’s “display of political will
to enforce environmental laws,” Paje said the reactivation of an environmental
team by Morales “has taken the next step further in building institutional
support within the bureaucracy to DENR’s initiatives for environmental
justice.”
Around 26 lawyers of the Ombudsman’s Office have been put
together to act as investigators and prosecutors pursuant to an existing
memorandum of agreement between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Integrated
Bar of the Philippines (IBP) forged in 2004 to monitor government officials’ compliance in implementing the
country’s environmental laws and policies.
“This move is indeed a huge step in this Administration’s
strides to transform the
nation’s attitude toward environmental citizenship,” said Paje.
Under the agreement, the Environmental
Ombudsman will closely keep an eye on citizens' complaints on violations of
environmental laws while the IBP shall act as the receiver of complaints and
reports on violations of environmental laws.
In the event that the concerned public
officials refuse or fail to take appropriate action, IBP will forward the
matter to the Environmental Ombudsman. The IBP will also provide active legal
assistance to the Ombudsman’s prosecutors.
The
agreement also provides a link-up by the Ombudsman team and IBP with other
government law enforcement agencies, such as the Philippine National Police,
the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice.
Paje noted
that the clout of the Environmental Ombudsman likewise covers elected and
appointed public officials suspected of being remiss in their duties resulting
in the violation of environmental laws or non-implementation of Philippine
environmental standards.
“Backed with a stronger legal muscle and
shield, this is a welcome help especially to our DENR field workers as they are
now better positioned to take a stronger stand against antagonistic interests
at work in the field,” Paje stressed. (RPAO-DENR-9/CAL/PIA9)