E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly 5 of 40 http://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/65160 On March 19, 2012,[19] SM Investments Corporation reiterated its request to cut or earth-ball the affected trees. On April 4, 2012,[20] Regional Executive Director Clarence L. Baguilat (Regional Executive Director Baguilat) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera Administrative Region gave the gosignal to earth-ball the trees. On April 9, 2012, SM Investments Corporation began earth-balling the Benguet pine and Alnus trees.[21] Meanwhile, the trial court had begun conducting hearings on the prayer for a temporary environmental protection order. As this was pending resolution, Cordillera Global Network filed on April 10, 2012 an Urgent Motion for the Issuance of the Temporary Environmental Protection Order with a Prayer for the Conduct of an Ocular Inspection.[22] That same day, the trial court granted[23] the Motion and issued a Temporary Environmental Protection Order effective for 72 hours. Upon receipt of the Temporary Environmental Protection Order on April 11, 2012, SM Investments Corporation ceased its earth-balling and transplanting operations.[24] On April 13, 2012, Cordillera Global Network filed a Motion to extend the Temporary Environmental Protection Order.[25] That same day, the trial court[26] extended the effectivity of the Temporary Environmental Protection Order to cover the pendency of the court proceedings in Case No. 7595-R. Cordillera Global Network then filed a petition to cite SM Investments Corporation in contempt for violating the Temporary Environmental Protection Order. This was docketed as Civil Case No. 7626-R.[27] On April 13, 2012, Judy Lyn Adajar and 75 other concerned Baguio City residents (Adajar, et al.) filed a new Complaint[28] (the second environmental case) against SM Supermalls, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., and Regional Executive Director Baguilat. It was docketed as Civil Case No. 7629-R. The two (2) environmental cases and the contempt petition were consolidated.[29] Cordillera Global Network and Adajar, et al. both alleged that the cutting or earthballing of the 182 trees on Luneta Hill would severely damage the environment and health of Baguio City residents. They also assailed the regularity of the permits issued, further claiming that the Expansion Project violated zoning and environmental laws.[30] Defendants asserted that the pertinent permits were issued only after strict compliance with the relevant rules and regulations. The public officials added that a 4/23/2020, 10:52 AM