Korean-owned resort faces illegal logging charges

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—A high-end resort in the Palawan town of El Nido is in hot water following the recent seizure of illegally cut hardwood lumber on its property and the filing of criminal charges against its owner.

The provincial prosecutor’s office filed on Tuesday illegal logging charges against Cho Hang Jin, a Korean national and owner of the plush El Nido Beach Resort on Matinloc Island.

The case stemmed from the apprehension last March 2 by members of the provincial government’s law enforcement team, Kilusang Sagip Kalikasan, of 8,390 board feet of freshly cut Ipil lumber valued at P234,978.

The cutting of the hardwood tree species, found only in Palawan, is banned.

Since the apprehension of the lumber, the owner has filed an appeal in the prosecutors’ office, claiming innocence and alleging that the confiscation was made by the KSK without a search warrant issued by a judge.

Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Julius Concepcion dismissed the appeal of the accused Korean national and proceeded early this week to file the case against the resort owner for violation of the Forestry Code, or illegal logging law.