DENR CENRO Catbalogan scores against a forest law violator
By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
October
19, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY –
Operatives of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office
in Catbalogan, Samar with the assistance of law enforcement partners,
raided a compound of a certain Demetrio L. David of Barangay Trinidad,
Calbayog
City on October 8, 2010. An estimated value of P251,223 worth of
undocumented lumber of lawaan, yakal and banuyo species, unregistered
circular saws with blades, one hand saw, and one motorcycle as
hauling equipment were apprehended and confiscated during the raid.
By virtue of Search
Warrant No. CN-25 issued by Executive Judge Cresente F. Maraya of RTC
Branch 11 in Calubian, Leyte, operatives from the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Regional and CENR Office in
Catbalogan Samar headed by CENR Officer Elpidio Simon, National Bureau
of Investigation, Philippine National Police, some members of the
media and the local officials of Barangay Trinidad, successfully
executed the raid that yielded the contraband items.
Appropriate criminal
charge is now being readied against the possessor of the undocumented
lumber and accessories, Demetrio L. David for violation of Section 77
of P.D. 705 as amended by E.O. 277 and other pertinent laws. The
confiscated forest products and accessories are now in custody of the
CENR Office in Catbalogan,
Samar.
DENR Regional
Executive Director Primitivo C. Galinato, Jr. expressed thanks to the
Department of Justice through Executive Judge Crescente F. Maraya,
Jr., the operatives from the PNP, NBI and media for their support
during the raid. This helped the DENR in its all out war against
forest law violators. “We will not stop there! We capitalize on the
support extended to us by our partners even in future operations that
may be conducted against illegal loggers in other parts of the
region,” RED Galinato said. We are extending so much effort in
rehabilitating our forests through plantations and foot patrols and we
will not allow illegal loggers to destroy our forests which are
supposed to benefit us and the succeeding generations sustainably
through legal processes,” RED Galinato stressed.
The all out war
against illegal loggers is consistent with the DENR’s management
direction, “From the Ridges to the Reefs”. This considers ample
protection on the forest being an important ecosystem in the upland
areas. Any unsustainable practices in the forests would certainly
affect the sustainability of the other ecosystems from the uplands to
the lowlands which include the mangroves, coastal and marine
ecosystems where most of our basic needs come from.
