HOT LOGS. Some 4,745 board feet of lauan flitches with a total market value of PHP118,625 are seized by authorities during a search and retrieval operation in Sitio Kosep, Barangay Bayugan 3, Rosario, Agusan del Sur on Friday (May 15, 2020). Environment officials cited the support of the police and the military in their enforcement activities. (Photo courtesy of DENR-13 Information Office)
BUTUAN CITY – Backed by the military and the police, personnel of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in the Agusan del Sur town of Bunawan confiscated on Friday some 42 pieces of illegally-cut lauan flitches in the neighboring town of Rosario.
In a report, CENRO chief Jerome H. Albia said 4,745 board feet of lauan flitches were seized by authorities during a search and retrieval operation in Sitio Kosep, Barangay Bayugan 3, Rosario.
The confiscated forest products were valued at PHP118,625.
“The confiscated lauan flitches are now deposited at the depository area of CENRO-Bunawan in Barangay Kalingayan, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur,” Albia said.
He also thanked Rosario’s municipal environment office for the success of the operation.
Albia also cited the support of the community in the area, particularly in providing information on the ongoing illegal gathering of forest products inside the timberlands of the government.
In a statement on Friday, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 13 (Caraga) Executive Director Felix S. Alicer commended the efforts of CENRO-Bunawan in guarding the government-owned timberlands.
Alicer was also thankful for the support extended by the police and the army to the agency's enforcement activities.
“I already ordered an investigation to unmask the financier and owner of the illegal forest products to face criminal charges for violating the forestry law, rules and regulation, and qualified theft for stealing at government timberland,” he said.
From January to April, DENR-13 confiscated 294,069.88 board feet of illegal logs and lumber products valued at PHP8,489,338.
During the period, 23 cases were filed in court and 40 individuals had been charged for violating the country's forestry laws. (PNA)
