Section 21Sec./Art. 21

Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration and Cancellation of Temporary /Special Permit. The Board shall have the power, upon notice and hearing, to revoke or suspend the certificate of registration of a registered forester or to cancel a temporary or special permit granted to a foreigner forester, for violation of any of the grounds or causes in Section 20 of this Act, except (c) thereof and any of the following grounds:

(a) Violation of a provision of this Act, its IRR, Code of Ethics, Code of Good Governance, Code of Technical Standards for the Practice of Forestry, policy, and measure of the Board or the Commission;

(b) Perpetration or use of fraud in obtaining ones certificate of registration, professional identification card, temporary or special permit;

(c) Gross incompetence, negligence or ignorance resulting to death, injury or damage;

(d) Refusal to join or to remain a member in good standing of the APO;

(e) Neglect or failure to pay the registration fees for three (3) consecutive years;

(f) Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a non-registered and licensed person by allowing another to use ones certificate of registration or professional identification card, or both, and temporary or special permit;

(g) Illegally practicing the profession during ones suspension;

(h) Proven addiction to drug or alcohol, impairing ones ability to practice the profession, or declared with unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction. In case of drug or alcohol addiction, a finding to this effect of a medical or drug testing facility shall be sufficient; and

(i) Noncompliance with the CPD requirement, unless one is exempted therefrom for the renewal of the professional identification card.

Any person, firm or association may file charges in accordance with the provision of this section against any registrant, or the Board may, on its own, investigate any of the abovementioned violations. An affidavit-complaint shall be filed together with the affidavits of witnesses and other documentary evidence with the Board through the Legal and Investigation Office. The Board may conduct an investigation, motu proprio, on a matter relating to the commission of a violation: Provided, That such decision to investigate shall be embodied in a formal charge to be signed by at least majority of its members. The rules on administrative investigation issued by the PRC shall govern the hearing or investigation subject to applicable provisions of this Act, Republic Act No. 8981, as amended, and the Rules of Court.