Mutineer named head of Environmental Law Enforcement Task Force

MANILA, Philippines - Former Marine commandant Gen. Renato Miranda, who is one of the military officers detained in connection with the alleged February 2006 coup, was designated head of the Environmental Law Enforcement Task Force (ELETF) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In a special order, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje appointed Miranda as head of ELETF.

Paje noted the ELETF shall report to the Office of the Secretary through the Office of the Undersecretary for Field Operations, which shall supervise the day-to-day ELETF operations.

“All DENR offices, particularly the regional and field offices, are hereby directed to extend full support and cooperation to the task force in the performance of its assigned tasks.”

Paje likewise said all expenses of the task force shall be chargeable against the Office of the Secretary, subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

The task force has 12 members.

For his part, Miranda said that even before his appointment, he already had experience with environmental management since he was one of those who helped intensify environment-related tasks of the Navy.

He said he will be coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of National Defense regarding deployment of personnel to help the task force apprehend violators.