Exercise 5.

Completed Staff Work (CSW)

CASE STUDY
On July 28, 2020 in the evening, a text message from a concerned citizen was received by the
CENRO that undocumented lumber belonging to natural species were spotted beside a
bunkhouse of Mindanao Irrigation Agency (MIA). MIA is a government agency that is
implementing a megadam project in the Province of Sultan Kulaman under the Build, Build,
Build Program of the government.
Responding to the report, on July 29, 2020, at around 2:30 PM a joint force composed of
elements of Philippine National Police of Lumangbayan, Provincial Government of Sultan
Kulaman and DENR- CENRO conducted an anti- illegal logging operation in Barangay Hua,
Lumangbayan.
When they arrived at the mentioned place, they found the report to be true. Mr. Birador, the
Barangay Chairman, disclosed that the forest products was delivered two weeks ago and based
on his understanding, the items will be used for the construction of the field office of MIA which
is adjacent the bunkhouse where they were deposited. The team also noticed a site where
concrete posts were erected and Mr. Birador said that it is in fact MIA’s field office.
Engr. Buritan, MIA’s project engineer at the site denied ownership of the said lumber. He
reasoned that he has no knowledge as to who delivered them and denied to have received
officially the said items. He pointed to Mr. Peligro, one of his caretakers to have knowledge
about the items. Mr. Peligro however denied knowledge of the items arguing that the items are
already there when he first reported for duty.
On the basis that the forest products had no legal documents, the Joint Team apprehended said
items and were hauled and placed under the custody of the Provincial Government. The items
consist of 123 pieces of lauan with a total volume of 1.79 cubic meters and an estimated market
value of PhP 38,000.00.
On the following day, July 30, 2020, DENR CENRO called the attention of the MIA Manager to
explain the incident and to present any legal document that would prove possible ownership of
forest products. MIA sent their Administrative Officer, together with a contractual employee to
discuss with the CENRO. They admitted that the items are MIA’s and confirmed that they are to
be used for the construction of their Field Station. They purchased those lumber following RA
9184 from Bogoc Lumber Supply (BLS) to whom they entered into Lumber Supply Contract.
BLS is located in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat which is 20 kilometers away from Barangay Hua,
Bagumbayan, Sultan Kulaman where NIAs Field Station is located. BLS is a DENR registered
lumber dealer with Certificate of Registration issued sometime in October 2019.
On August 12, 2020, the first Administrative Hearing was conducted at CENRO pursuant to
DAO 97-32. Among those who were invited were Engr. Respeto, NIA Manager; Engr. Blanco,
NIA Supervisor; Engr. Buritan, Project In- charge at the Site; Mr. Peligro, NIA Caretaker;
MIA’s Administrative Officer and her contractual staff; Mr. Birador, Brgy. Captain; Mr.
Bogoc, proprietor of BLS; PNP Apprehending Officers, and Provincial Provincial Environment
Management Officer (PEMO). MIA maintained that the purchase of such lumber is in
accordance with RA 9184 while Mr. Bogoc denied delivery of such item. Mr. Bogoc admitted
that while it is true that he has lumber supply contract with MIA, there was no delivery that was
made yet. He even accused MIA of a sabotage because of transactions of the said agency with
other lumber dealers including from those unregistered ones even though he was the winning
bidder. Mr. Birador, at the last part of the hearing, hinted of anomalous transactions made
between BLS and certain Mr. Uang. According to Mr. Birador, Mr. Uang was the one who
financed the cutting of natural trees in his barangay. He mentioned the names Mr. Tuai and Mr.
Swaqui, indigenous peoples, to be responsible for cutting of trees in the area to be delivered to
Mr. Uang and who in turn would sell the lumber to BLS through Engr. Buritan. Mr. Bogoc
will then issue official receipt in the name of the MIA. Mr. Bogoc admitted that he previously
had transacted personally with Mr. Uang in Barangay Hua and hinted that he was his sub-
contractor in the delivery of lumber to MIA’s previous infrastructure project.
On August 14, 2020, the second administrative hearing was conducted at the SB Session Hall of
the Provincial Capitol. The same set of personalities were invited with the addition of Mr. Tuai
and Mr. Swaqui. During this hearing, Mr. Bogoc made a turnaround statement and denied to
have known of Mr. Uang and the Barangay Captain, Mr. Birador. The Barangay Captain
likewise denied to have known Mr. Bogoc and Mr. Uang. The two IPs, Mr. Tuai and Mr.
Swaqui, were given the chance to talk in their own dialect. Using an interpreter, it was disclosed
that they were the ones who were responsible for cutting of trees to be sold to Mr. Uang.
Allegedly, Mr. Uang told them that the lumber were to be delivered to MIA.
Instruction:
1. Group yourselves into four.
2. Deliberate on the case provided.
3. Draft a CSW following Manual of Style.
4. Choose a reporter.
5. Make Assumptions, if necessary.
6. Present the output in the plenary (Strictly 5 minutes only).
7. Other groups to comment on the output presented. Each valid negative comment will be a
3- point deduction on the group’s overall score. However, if the group successfully
defends the negative comment thrown, no deduction will be made.
8. Final score will be the group’s grade minus total deductions at the end of the
presentation.
9. The resource person will also make comments: negative comments (-3points), positive
comments (+3points).
10. The highest scorer will be declared the best group and will receive surprise. The score of
the group will be the individual score for this exercise.