CAMP MARCELO A. ADDURU, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – Police seized hot logs worth nearly P8 million in Region 2 or Cagayan Valley from January to November this year.
Police Brig. Gen. Antonio P. Marallag Jr., Police Regional Office-2 chief, said that he would intensify the campaign against illegal logging in the region in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
MARALLAG (FB)
“We need to intensify the operations against illegal logging in coordination with the DENR in Cagayan Valley to further protect and preserve the remaining virgin forest areas in the region,” said Marallag, who added that illegal logging greatly contributed to flooding in the region.
Lawmen confiscated hot logs P3.7 million in Nueva Vizcaya, P2.2 million in Cagayan, P1.3 million in Isabela, P15,500 in Batanes, P359,739 in Quirino, and P20,595 in Santiago City.
One-hundred fifty-eight cases of illegal logging were recorded and 348 anti-illegal logging operations were conducted. One-hundred forty-one illegal logging cases were filed in court and 226 suspected illegal loggers were arrested.
The DENR-Region 2 donated some of these seized hot logs to typhoon victims in Batanes and Cagayan for the reconstruction and repair of damaged houses and schools for repair of their buildings.