Through the joint efforts of the Olongapo City government, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and of the Olongapo City Police Office, illegal loggers were apprehended in the act of cutting trees at Lunduyan St. Balic-Balic Sta.Rita last week.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT. Suspects identified as a 22-year-old from Leyte and a 44-year-old, from Surigao were caught in the act of illegally cutting Kupang trees at Lunduyan St. Balic-Balic, Sta.Rita, Olongapo City last week. Caught in their possession were two jungle bolos, a 72- inch chainsaw, one  liter of gasoline and 15 pieces of Kupang logs of different sizes.  Kupang trees are ideal for starting reforestation projects.

The police identified the illegal loggers as John Lee Minerva Bolbar, 22 years old, from Leyte and Wermer Consigera Migollas, 44 years old, from Surigao.

Authorities seized from the suspects two jungle bolos, a 72- inch chainsaw, one liter of gasoline and 15 pieces of logged Kupang lumber of assorted sizes.  Kupang (Parkia timoriana), also known as P. Javanica, is one of the  Philippines’ native species that is planted when starting a rainforest project because it is a leguminous tree,  fast growing, sun loving and shade tolerant, Branches are flexible and strong enough from wind breakage, and medicinal.



According to the “Primer on Illegal Logging” published by the Legal Affairs Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Section 68 of Presidential Decree No. 705 (Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines), says that “any person who shall cut, gather , collect, 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 the legal documents as required under existing forest laws and regulations shall be punished with the penalties imposed under Articles 309 and 310 of the Revised Penal Code;

Also according to P. D. 705, “the Court shall further order the confiscation in favor of the government of the timber or any forest products cut, gathered, collected, removed, or possessed, as well as the machinery, equipment, implements and tools illegally used in the area where the forest products are found.”

The suspects are in the custody of Police Station 5, Sta. Rita, Olongapo City and are now facing charges of violation of P.D 705 and Republic Act No. 9175.

Republic Act no. 9175   or the Chain Saw Act of 2002, regulates the ownership possession, sale, importation, and use of chain saws.

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine