Senate urged to probe Yulo-Loyzaga ‘conflict of interest’; DENR chief says allegations ‘false’

A resolution has been filed in the Senate seeking an investigation into the alleged conflict of interest involving Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga over her family’s supposed ownership of around 40,000 hectares of forests and ancestral domain in Palawan.

Senator Raffy Tulfo filed proposed Senate Resolution 985 after a column on the April 3 issue of the Philippine Star indicated that the Yulo King Ranch “stands accused of land grabbing” in Coron and Busuanga in Palawan.

The article indicated that the Yulo family came to own the land in 1976, which allegedly goes against Proclamation 1387 promulgated in 1975 under then-President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Proclamation 1387 pertained to the establishment of a pasture reserve in Busuanga.

“The Secretary of DENR has been charged with the formidable duty of ensuring the management and conservation of the country’s natural resources and protected areas against exploitation,” Tulfo said in his resolution.

“Such allegations could undermine public trust in the DENR and affect its capability to effectively fulfill its mandate of making unbiased decisions regarding issues of similar nature, as well as protecting the environment and natural resources of the country,” he added.

Tulfo explained the need to investigate these allegations thoroughly “to ensure that public officials adhere to the highest ethical standards” and safeguard the public interest and maintain trust in public institutions.

‘False allegations’

In a statement, Yulo-Loyzaga clarified that the Basuanga Pasture Reserve “has always been government-owned.”

“The Yulo family has never owned this land and has no interest in owning it,” she said.

Yulo-Loyzaga said her family is also not a party to negotiations being undertaken by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for the utilization or distribution of Busuanga Pasture Reserve.

“I hope that this puts to rest all false allegations that came out only after I joined the DENR and started cleaning up the place to make sure only public interest prevails and is served,” she said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News