Illegally cut logs from Nueva Ecija seized by DENR and PNP.
Over 13,000 board feet of illegally cut logs were seized over the weekend in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija, by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other law enforcement organizations, according to a report on Tuesday.
A joint operation was carried out at Barangays Pias Chico and Rio in General Tinio town, by the DENR, the 84th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, the local police of General Tinio and the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO).
The illegal loggers fled as soon as they saw the authorities approaching and left the tanguile and mayapis logs beside the Sumacbao riverbed, according to Gerundio Fernandez, provincial chief of the DENR office in Nueva Ecija.
“Illegal loggers took advantage of the high level of water in Sumacbao River brought by heavy rainfall. Confiscated logs were kept afloat and transported to the downstream of the river using balsa,” Fernandez stressed.
The woods, which are worth over P800,000, were transferred to the General Tinio and NEPPO municipal facility for temporary custody and safekeeping.
The illegal loggers would be charged with violations of the Revised Forestry Code or Presidential Decree 705 and criminal charges.
To closely monitor any potential movement of contrabands forest rangers and protection officers from the DENR are now stationed in the region.
In addition to bolstering the Regional Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force, the DENR has collaborated closely and maintained active partnerships with the Philippine National Police, LGUs, indigenous groups, and the 7th Infantry Division, 703rd Infantry Brigade, First Scout Ranger Regiment, and 3rd Regional Community Defense Group of the Army for wildlife protection and to save the remaining forests of Central Luzon.
Tags: # DENR, #illegallogging, #environment, #forestsandwildlife