BUTUAN CITY – The Police Regional Office-13 confiscated undocumented lumber valued at P1.8 million in the Caraga region last May.
The PRO-13 Regional Operations Division said 52,747.85 board feet of illegally cut lumber were seized, with the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO) confiscating 8,067.16 board feet worth P897,762.80 followed by the Agusan del Sur PPO with 34,423.85 board feet worth P765,549.50.
SOME of the illegally cut forest products seized by the field units of the Police Regional Office-13 in the Caraga region. (Photo via Mike U. Crismundo/Manila Bulletin).
The Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13 had 7,468.59 board feet worth P88,286.55; Surigao del Norte PPO, 1,957.60 board feet worth P77,969; Agusan del Norte PPO, 342.65 board feet worth P22,065.05, and Dinagat Islands PPO with 488 board feet worth P19,520.
On May 18, the Carrascal Municipal Police Station (MPS) with the DENR-CENRO-Cantilan and 1302nd Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13 confiscated 5,101 board feet of Magcono lumber with estimated value of P817,150 and arrested two persons after a ten-wheel wing van was intercepted in Barangay Adlay, Carrasacal, Surigao del Sur.
PRO-13 said they remain steadfast in their mission to protect forests in Northeastern Mindanao.
“Forest protection is also part in our task, in preservation of the remaining forest in this region,” PRO-13 chief Police Brig. Gen. Pablo Labra II said.
“By enforcing environmental laws, we can ensure the sustainable use of our natural resources and prevent their depletion or degradation,” he said. “Anyone involved in destroying nature will be held liable in accordance with the law,” Labra added.
A total of 11 individuals were apprehended and face charges for allegedly violating Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Code of the Philippines.
Seized forest products are temporarily deposited in designated areas in the Caraga region.