UNDER the cover of night, the illegal reclamation activities by a Mangaldan-based company on a portion of the Calmay River have been continuing for weeks and finally last week, four of its workers were arrested by the police.

Apprehended at the site last November 7, 11:00 p.m., were workers reportedly hired by contractors of 888 Dagupan Properties Inc., namely Nacian Edria Jr., 35, trailer truck driver from Barangay Cayanga, Bugallon; Saturnino Velasco, 52, dump truck driver, also of Cayanga, Bugallon; and Jose Edwin Nebres, 45, also a dump truck driver, of Anolid, Mangaldan; and John John Mecasena, 39, grader operator, of Mangaldan-based Super Concrete Corporation.

A cease and desist order (CDO) issued by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2008 is in effect against 888 Dagupan Properties, the company behind the illegal backfilling operations along the Calmay River.

The company, however, has been able to continue its illegal operations and has, in fact, already succeeded in leveling a wide portion of the reclaimed area. No charges have been filed in court by the city government to date.

Superintendent Romeo Caramat, officer-in-charge of the Dagupan police, said a mobile patrol chanced upon the four men at the reclamation site where they delivered loads of sand and gravel and a backhoe was in place to level the dumped filling materials.

The police held the four for questioning but released them later as the police said they could not determine what law was violated for delivering sand and gravel to the illegal reclamation site.

The trucks and backhoe were also impounded but released after a few hours.

Caramat said that while they have a resolution from the city council and a memorandum from Mayor Benjamin Lim both ordering them to stop any delivery of sand and gravel to the site, it was not clear what charges they can bring against those who would be caught.

Informed of the incident, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Leduina Co lamented that since the DENR has no police power to enforce its CDO, the city government of Dagupan assumes the responsibility of stopping 888 Dagupan Properties Inc. from undertaking further reclamation of that area along the Calmay River.

Former Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. succeeded in enforcing the order but the company resumed its operations as soon as Mayor Benjamin Lim took over the post in July this year.

888 Dagupan Properties Inc. and Super Concrete Corp are owned by Mangaldan businessman William Chua.—LM

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