Monday, August 10, 2009


BCPO stood firmed, acted within the bounds of law
Butuan City – A rift between the local government of Butuan and Agusan del Norte may soon escalate following an incident at Taguibo area yesterday morning.
On July 20, the office of City Police Director Joseph Plaza received a letter from Agusan del Norte Provincial Police Director Benson Leleng asking for a security assistance for the members of the Multi-Sectoral Team who will be passing at Barangay Anticala in going to the watershed area.
The Team was tasked by the Provincial Peace & Oder Council to investigate from July 22-24 the alleged illegal mining, illegal logging and illegal road construction being done inside the watershed area part of which is in San Antonio, RTR under the jurisdiction of the provincial government of Agusan del Norte.
Yesterday morning, City Councilor Randolph Plaza, City ENRO Alexander Alaan along with members of the City Mobile Group led by City Police Director Joseph Plaza blocked the Team at Barangay Taguibo to prevent them from passing the area.
“Butuan City Police Office acted within the scope of our duty, we are just exercising police power within a defined legal or territorial area of responsibility,” stressed City Director Plaza on the incident.
It was learned, that Agusan del Norte Multi-Sectoral Team failed to coordinate with the LGU of Butuan, that raised city official’s suspicions as to the motives in going to Anticala instead of concentrating its investigation in San Antonio, RTR.
Meanwhile, City Tourism Council Chairman Daisy B. Plaza last week met with some members of the Committee on Environment of the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Butuan and discussed the possibility of establishing an independent investigative group to tackle the issue. Mrs. Plaza belied reports that the city government has done nothing to resolve the problem at the watershed..
The Sangguniang Panglunsod Committee on Public Utilities and Committee on Environment are set to conduct a joint hearing of the issue of alleged illegal logging/mining within the Taguibo watershed.
BCWD Manager Engr. Anselmo San Tian on the other hand specifically blamed the on-going illegal activities in Anticala, Butuan and San Antonio, RTR in Agusan del Norte as the primary cause of water turbidity forcing the management to shut down the infiltration gallery whenever it rains rendering the whole Butuan waterless. (Jocelyn E. Morano)

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