ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. Brig. Gen. Pablo Labra II, director of the Police Regional Office 13 (Caraga Region), reports the confiscation of more than PHP800,000 worth of hot logs and forest products during the one-day environmental law enforcement on March 21, 2023. Labra also acknowledged the support of the other law enforcement agencies on the success of the operation. (Photo courtesy of PRO-13 Information Office)
BUTUAN CITY – The Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 (Caraga Region) conducted simultaneous one-day anti-illegal logging operations early this week, resulting in the seizure of PHP830,335 worth of illegally gathered lumber and undocumented forest products.
In a statement Thursday, PRO-13 Director, Brig. Gen. Pablo Labra II, said the operations were supported by the Enforcement Division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 13 and the National Bureau of Investigation - Agusan del Sur District Office.
Authorities served a search warrant on Tuesday afternoon and arrested Joedic C. Pacheco, a resort owner and resident of Barangay Lactudan, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur.
A total of 120 pieces of Kamagong, Red Lauan, Yakal, and Magkuno lumber species with a total volume of 3,397.06 board feet (bd. ft.) worth PHP509,559 were seized from the suspect.
Also confiscated were, 23 pieces of furniture and novelty items made of Magkuno worth PHP150,500; 12 pieces of Mahogany lumber with a total volume of 64 bd. ft. worth PHP2,560; and eight pieces of Magkuno dining table worth PHP151,000.
The search warrant was issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 46 in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur for the violation of Presidential Decree 705, or the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines.
A separate anti-illegal logging operation conducted in Barangay Bayugan 3, Rosario Agusan del Sur, on Tuesday afternoon yielded 24 pieces of illegally cut Lauan flitches with a total volume of 600 bd. ft. valued at PHP16,716.
A follow-up operation is still underway as of posting time against the suspects, who fled before the authorities arrived in the area, police said.
“In line with the Philippine National Police Core Value 'Makakalikasan,' the PRO-13 will continue to strictly enforce environmental laws to protect the region's natural resources,” Labra said. (PNA)
