3 arrested as NBI raids illegal structures at Antipolo watershed

The National Bureau of Investigation arrested three suspects during a raid on illegal concrete structures built at the Marikina River Basin Watershed in Antipolo.

According to John Consulta's Saturday 24 Oras Weekend report, the NBI's Environmental Crime Division and Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Rizal officials raided a private resort, a store, and a gamefowl farm with a thousand gamecocks.

The roosters were allegedly used for online sabong or cockfights.

According to the NBI, the concrete structures were illegal because they had been built on a watershed protected area.

"Ito ay tinatawag na Marikina River Basin, protected area systeme yan, eh," explained NBI-ENCD Executive Officer Atty. Marvin Matamis.

(The area is called the Marikina River Basin -  a protected area system.)

"Kung mananatili ang mga structures na yan, eh hindi natin maiiwasan ang pagbaha. Konting ulan lamang eh babaha na sa baba. So kailangan matanggal na ang mga structures na ito."

(If these structures aren't removed, we won't be able to prevent flooding. A little rain and it will start flooding downriver. So these structures have to be removed.)

The three arrested suspects were found at the illegal structures, and they face charges for violating the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act and the Forestry Code, which comes with 6-12 year prison sentence.

"At saka yung investment nila, di ba?" added NBI-ENCD chief Senior Jun Carpeso. "Mafo-forfeit lang yan sa government kung magkataon ma-charge sila sa court."

(And their investment in those structures, they may end up forfeiting these to the government if they end up in court.)

— DVM, GMA News