BUTUAN CITY – The Police Regional Office-13 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-13 seized 5,402.63 board feet of illegally cut logs worth P245,000 in 20 anti-illegal logging operations in the Caraga region from January 12 to 18.
“At least 11 illegal poachers and traders were also arrested during this Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations,” PRO-13 Regional Public Information Office (RPIO) chief Police Major Jennifer S. Ometer said on Tuesday, January 23.

THE Police Regional Office-13 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) seized illegally cut lumber in the Caraga region last week. (Photo via Mike U. Crismundo)
Four suspected illegal loggers were arrested in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur and yielded 1,682.63 board feet of illegally cut logs worth P115,136.50.
On the other hand, seven suspected illegal loggers were nabbed in the provinces of Surigao. Seized from them were 3,391 board feet of hot logs valued at P119,626.
The Regional Mobile Force Battalion-13 also confiscated 329 board feet of undocumented lumber valued at P10,160.
Ometer said suspects face charges for violating Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Code of the Philippines.
These confiscated illegally cut forest products were temporarily deposited in designated areas of the DENR and police camps for final scaling and disposition.
PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft sought public support in their campaign to protect the environment.
“As we uphold our core value ‘makakalikasan’ (pro-environment), I urge the public to support our police operations and efforts in preserving our natural resources by reporting any suspected illegal logging activities in the localities,” Kraft said.