By Ben Contreras NOT so long ago, two logging trucks were intercepted by Clenro Edwin Dael and his team and were parked near the outpost of the DENR in Lumbia! Mr. Dael found discrepancies in the documents. He suspected collusion between the illegal loggers and some Cenro people The following morning, one of the trucks went missing under the very noses of those who were supposed to watch over these and the logs. Somehow, they eventually got the right papers from Cenro. Who in Cenro helped them? On Thursday evening, Mr. Dael called me up to report another intercepted truck with logs covered by questionable papers. I called up for GMA and asked that it send reporters. (Thanks to Kaye for getting in touch with Joan.) Sulog vice chairman and Save CDO Now Movement Inc. chairman Ralph Abragan was also informed and he went there. The following morning, Mr. Dael called up again, fuming mad at Cenro. “Unsay ilang pagtuo, gaduladula lang mi? Bugal-bugal man ni ilang trabaho?” I couldn’t agree more. Cenro is among the signatories in the Feb. 25, 2013 MOA. Its men are part of the task force that carries out raids against illegal mining and logging. So why is this happening? Who in their office are in cahoots with the illegal loggers? This question needs answers. Calling DENR regional director Ruth Tawantawan! Dael fears for his life just like Abragan. I urge the people of Cagayan de Oro City to help these people who are only trying to protect our environment and the lives of all Kagayanons. Is this too much to ask for?

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I received a long love letter from Atty. Rene Burdeos in response to my column. Finally, I got his attention. He must have missed my other column which also called the attention of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. The signing of the first quarterly report to the Court of Appeals was made at the office of NBI regional director Ricardo A. Diaz. The DILG-10 representatives gave time to discuss with me the column I just wrote, clarified a few points and straightened out any misunderstanding. Going through the letter of Atty. Burdeos, I found his sincerity to correct any misunderstanding. A copy was furnished to Roxas. It’s a good start, Atty. Burdeos. Thank you.