CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – The Police Regional Office-13 seized illegally cut lumber worth P316,631.70 and arrested 17 suspected illegal loggers in the Caraga region from June 26 to July 2.
“Our operatives seized at least 13,342.65 board feet of illegally sawn lumber after 21 anti-illegal logging operations were conducted in various parts of the region,” PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Pablo G. Labra II said on Wednesday, July 5.
“We have to tighten our law enforcement operations to protect our environment and prevent forest denudation,” Labra added.
Labra said 3,118.7 board feet of lauan lumber with an estimated market value of P155,935 were seized on June 27, in Barangay Puting Bato, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte by the Cabadbaran City Police Station and Tubay DENR-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).
Manhunt operations against the owners of the contraband who were able to evade arrest during the operation are ongoing and charges have been filed against them.
“Enforcing environmental law is one of our priorities under the PNP Master Plan LOI 42/2001 ‘Sangyaman’ which aims to protect and preserve the environment, cultural properties, and natural,” Labra said.
He said PRO-13 anti-illegal logging operation will continue without let up in different hot spot areas in the region.
Arrested persons were charged with violation of Presidential Decree (PD) 705, otherwise known as the Forestry Code of the Philippines, police said.