BUTUAN CITY – The Police Regional Office-13 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) seized more than P1.3-million worth of illegally cut forest products in a week-long Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO) in the Caraga region from September 6 to 12.
Eight suspected illegal loggers were arrested and face charges for violating Presidential Decree 705, the Forestry Code of the Philippines.
Eighteen anti-illegal logging operations were conducted, 15 of which led to the apprehension of the suspects while three yielded abandoned forest products.
The Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO) confiscated an estimated 19,577 board feet of hot logs and lumber worth P472,215, Surigao del Sur PPO, 6,413.14 board feet, P800,482; Surigao del Norte PPO, 1,045 board feet, P11,508; Regional Mobile Force Battalion, 548 board feet, P70,840, and Agusan del Norte PPO, 340 board feet, P9,000.
On September 10, the Loreto Municipal Police Station (MPS) and DENR-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) confiscated 70 Lauan logs with a volume of 423.78 board feet worth P456,500 in an operation in the hinterland of Barangay Kasapa-1, Loreto, Agusan del Sur.
PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft commended the people for protecting the remaining forest cover in the region.
“I thank our dedicated PNP and DENR personnel as well as the people who have supported our cause in the protection of our forest and natural resources from unscrupulous individuals,” Kraft said. “As a result of these comprehensive efforts, we hope to see a significant decline in illegal logging activities in our region."