CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – The Police Regional Office-13 has seized 1,175.31 board feet of illegally cut logs and lumber valued at P262,925.82 in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur on Friday, July 14.
ILLEGALLY cut lumber was seized in Barangay Buena Garcia, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, on Friday, July 14. (Mike U. Crismundo)
The PRO-13 said seven suspects were arrested and they now face charges for violation of Presidential Decree 705, the Forestry Code of the Philippines, during their anti-illegal logging operations.
PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Pablo G. Labra II said operating units are still pursuing other suspects in illegal logging activities for filing of appropriate charges against them.
“They must be answerable of destroying our remaining forest cover in the region,” Labra said.
The Talacogon Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Agusan del Sur and Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) arrested an illegal lumber trader in Talacogon after he was caught with 250 board feet of illegally cut logs worth P150,000.
The San Agustin MPS, together with DENR-CENRO Lianga, apprehended two suspects from Ormoc City, Leyte who yielded 533.33 board feet of illegally cut logs valued at P79,999.50 in Barangay Kauswagan, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.
The 2nd Agusan del Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company, Tubay MPS, and DENR-CENRO intercepted a vehicle loaded with illegally sawed lumber in a checkpoint in Doña Rosario, Tubay, Agusan del Norte.
Four suspects, who are all residents of Cebu City, were nabbed. Confiscated from them was 391.98 board feet of illegally cut forest products with an estimated value of P32,926.32.
Seized forest products are in the custody of DENR for proper disposition.
"PRO-13 has strengthened its efforts in environmental protection and conservation in line with the PNP Core Values ‘Makakalikasan (pro-environment),’” Labra added.