DENR cracks down on illegal logging in Luzon

By Mar T. Supnad

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga – A crackdown on illegal logging in Central Luzon has yielded 1,000 cubic meters of assorted forest products worth at least 12.5 million in the first half of this year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources revealed Tuesday.

The confiscations came due to calls to end illegal logging operations in identified environmental hot spots in the region, said DENR Regional Executive Director Ricardo Calderon.

At least 200 forest protection officers and rangers have been mobilized to maintain a strong presence in “hot spot" areas for illegal logging.

Sixteen DENR checkpoints have also been placed on red alert to monitor and intercept the movement of contraband forest products, especially those coming from the Sierra Madre mountains of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Quezon provinces.

“Most contraband forest products coming from the Eastern Pacific Seaboard find outlet in Aurora, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan before reaching their final destination in Metro Manila,” Calderon explained.

On August 3, four suspected illegal loggers were arrested after being caught in the act of cutting down trees in Barangay Sibul, Orani, Bataan.

Senior Supt. Arnold D. Gunnacao, Bataan police director, identified the suspects as Aurelio Flores and Chona Flores, both of Bona Cruz, Sta. Cruz, Lubao, Pampanga; and Fherdie Manalang and Ronald Flores, both also of Sibul.

Gunnacao said assorted logs and an Isuzu Elf truck (TFP-191) were confiscated by the arresting team from the suspects.

Prior to this, Gunnacao said that there were two other illegal loggers arrested in Barangay St. Francis, Limay town.

He identified them as Rene de Juan and Eduardo Castillo.

The two suspects have been under surveillance following reports that they were allegedly engaged in illegal logging, prompting police and representatives of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office to launch the operation.

Meanwhile, Calderon said that 16 illegal loggers have been jailed since 2005 and 67 others charged with violation of forestry laws in various local courts in the region.

Section 68 of P.D. 705 states that any person who shall cut, collect, gather or remove timber or other forest products from any forest land, or timber from alienable or disposable public land or from private land without any authority, or possess timber or other forest products without legal documents, shall be punished for the crime of theft with penalties imposed under Articles 309 and 310 of the Revised Penal Code.