A group of indigenous Tagbanua-Cuyonon alleged that an employee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) misdeclared the number of rattan in their transport permit, which resulted to its confiscation by port authorities in Metro Manila.
The incident happened this last week of August 2025. Rattan locally known as yantok is a stem of the rattan plant, which are used for crafting furniture, rods and canes.
In a TV program segment hosted by Senator Erwin Tulfo, he said that these group of Tagbanua-Cuyonon approached and seek assistance from his office complaining that a DENR employee assigned at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Taytay has facilitated their transport permit documents. They claimed that the DENR employee insisted that for each 20,000 pieces of yantok, they shall declare only 11,000, or a 9,000 pieces undeclared yantok.
These undeclared 9,000 pieces for every 20,000 of yantok is intended for the bribe locally known as “lagay” that will go to the said DENR employee. For each yantok, the transporter will pay P1 each.
Senator Tulfo said that the expected proceeds of P600,000 has reduced to only P330,000 due to bribes equivalent to 45percent. If the transportation cost of approximately P100,000 is deducted, the remaining P230,000 will be divided equally to some 20 individuals.
The senator said that the indigenous people was initially hesitant of misdeclaring their shipment but they choose to agree with the DENR employee. However, upon reaching the port of Manila, authorities there confiscated their rattan products due to misdeclaration. The IPs was also incarcerated for such offense.
“Dahil sa takot na baka hindi maibenta ang kanilang produkto, pumayag na lamang ang mga katutubo, at noong ika-8 ng Agosto, kinumpirma ng DENR na maibabiyahe na ang kanilang mga yantok. Ngunit pagdating sa pantalan ng Maynila, na-hold at nakumpiska ang mga produktong yantok dahil mali ang nakadeklarang bilang at nakulong pa ang ilang katutubo, at hindi na rin naibenta pa ang libu-libong mga yantok,” Senator Tulfo narrated.
Senator Tulfo and his staff also visited the DENR CENRO in Taytay, Palawan which Development Management Officer IV Mariano P. Lilang Jr who is the CENR Officer said that they will investigate the matter assuring that he does not tolerate anomalies.
The CENR Officer said that he preferred referring the matter to their higher office whenever necessary.
Senator Tulfo said that he is continuously communicating and coordinating with the higher office of the DENR to hold the concerned employee accountable for his acts.
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