Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año admitted Monday that numerous small time illegal loggers continue to operate and are mostly arrested with the prominent illegal loggers having already made their headway in the 1970s and 1980s “all over the country.’’

In an interview over GMA News, Año  explained why mostly small time illegal loggers are nabbed by the law enforcement agencies.

He also pointed out that there are instances where the mayors are involved in illegal logging operations themselves.

Comparable somewhat to an indecent proposal, Año noted that some rogue mayors have connived with the illegal loggers in exchange for election funds or full support for their candidacies.

Describing it as an unfortunate reality, Año emphasized that the electorate should shun the election of corrupt public officials who are involved in all sorts of illegal activities.

The DILG chief also noted that some local chief executives (LCE) are  giving concessions for unlawful operations like illegal quarrying.

In the case of illegal mining, Año explained that these operations are done discreetly which are almost out of the eyes of the law enforcers.

He added that the illegal mining operators are forced not to seek the government’s assistance in times of danger out of fear of their activity being uncovered.

“If the operation is legal they are protected by the State. Mabilis ang response (The response is fast),’’ Año said.

Año traced the proliferation of illegal logging operations to the construction boom in the country as there is a great demand for timber.

He noted the demand for “hardwood’’ of affluent families for their furniture has become the “driving force’’ of the illegal loggers who totally disregard the negative consequences of their greed.

Año detailed that among the ill effects of illegal logging are deforestation, loss of biodiversity, emission of greenhouse effect, and destructive flooding.

To save the balding forests,  Año stressed the need for a massive “reforestation and national greening program’’ as these would result in the return of the watershed.

Año cited the importance of being “wholistic’’ as running after illegal loggers should be complemented by other relevant programs.

He also called for the strict enforcement of the law where it is equally applied to influential personalities like politicians.

Año pushed for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to be deputized as they can even reach the mountains and to include the forest rangers in the anti-illegal logging task force.

He backed the proposal to arm forest rangers but stressed that including them in the task force to implement the anti-illegal logging operations is much better.

Año said that the undermanned forest rangers may become the target of the New People’s Army (NPA) and other terrorist groups if they will solely enforce the illegal logging operation law.

The PNP has conducted 2,467 anti-illegal logging operations and arrested 5,985 from Nov. 1 to 21.