Ombudsman reactivates special team on environment

The Office of the Ombudsman has reactivated the Environmental Team which will primarily handle cases involving violation of environmental laws or those that concern environmental protection.

OmbudsmanConchita Carpio-Morales said in a statement emailed to the Tribune that she designated Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera as the new Environmental Ombudsman.

At the same time, the Ombudsman named lawyer Raquel Rosario Cunanan-Marayag, oficer-in-charge of the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Bureau of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, as Assistant Environmental Ombudsman.

She said the 26 Ombudsman lawyers have been designated as members of the Environmental Team of Investigators and Prosecutors (Environmental Team).

In reactivating the Environmental Team, Carpio-Morales said the move was pursuant to an existing memorandum of agreement the anti-graft office and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines have forged for the proper implementation and enforcement of environmental laws.

“The Environmental Team shall handle all cases involving violation of environmental laws or concerning environmental protection that will be filed with the Office,” the Ombudsman said.

As Environmental Ombudsman, Mosquera “shall act as the reviewing and recommending authority in such cases undergoing preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication.”

Meanwhile, Marayag, as Assistant Environmental Ombudsman, “shall act as the reviewing and recommending authority in such complaints undergoing field investigation.”
In both instances, the Ombudsman remains the final approving authority, according to Carpio-Morales.

As an initial task, the Ombudsman directed Mosquera to “keep an updated list of complaints and cases involving environmental violations, issues or concerns, and monitor them, including the implementation of sanctions, if any.” –Arlie O. Calalo, Daily Tribune