MIMAROPA Cops, DENR Seize P63.7K Worth of Forest Products in One Day

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Police and environment authorities arrested two people and seized forest products worth an estimated over P63,000 in separate anti-illegal logging operations in Romblon and Palawan on Thursday (Sept. 3). The Police Regional Office in MIMAROPA said the operations were conducted with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to curb illegal cutting and possession of forest products in the region. MIMAROPA covers the southwestern Tagalog region composed of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. In San Fernando town in Romblon, personnel of the San Fernando Municipal Police Station provided security assistance to the DENR-Protected Area Management Office in Sibuyan during an anti-illegal logging operation in Sitio Olango, Barangay España. At about 9:45 a.m., a 40-year-old resident was reportedly caught holding an axe beside a freshly-cut Balaw tree measuring about 30 centimeters in diameter and 30 feet long. The tree was estimated to have a volume of 273.9 board feet, with a value of P13,695. The suspect was brought to the San Fernando police station. Authorities prepared charges against the arrested person for alleged violation of Section 77 of Presidential Decree No. 705, or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, as amended by Executive Order No. 277. Meanwhile, in Palawan town of Roxas, the personnel of the Roxas Municipal Police Station enforced a search warrant against a 69-year-old resident of Purok Zambales in Barangay 3. They moved together with the DENR, Palawan Provincial Intelligence Unit, and 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company. The warrant was issued in connection with an alleged violation of Section 77 of PD 705. Authorities recovered assorted forest products, including Ipil lumber and planted Mahogany trees, with an estimated combined volume of 300 board feet and market value of P50,000. Police said the suspect failed to present valid documents, permits or licenses authorizing the possession and ownership of the forest products. The seized items were inventoried in the presence of barangay and media workers. The suspect was brought to the Roxas police station. /apl