8ID, PN, PNP and DENR confiscate illegally cut lumbers

By DPAO, 8ID PA
June 25, 2015

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – Army troops under the Burauen based 78th Infantry Battalion, personnel from Philippine Navy, PNP and DENR confiscated 1,586 Board Feet of illegally cut lumbers at Barangay Villa Corazon, Burauen, Leyte on June 24, 2015.

In a report from Lt. Col. Allan Jose L. Taguba, Commanding Officer of the 78th Infantry Battalion, Kenneth Yves Salon, Chief Surveillance and Intel Section Division of DENR Regional Office 8 made coordination with 78th IB to assist them in confiscating illegally cut lumbers.

The Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force created under Executive Order 23 which is chaired by the Environment Secretary, with the Interior Secretary, Defense Secretary, the Armed Forces Chief, and the Philippine National Police Chief as members, approved a resolution deputizing all officials and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as environment and natural resources officers.

Meanwhile, the 8th Infantry Division and its subordinate units spread throughout Region 8 and Bohol has planted 6,380 assorted non-fruit and fruit bearing trees from January 2015 to June 2015 in its thrust in protecting the environment.

Maj. Gen. Jet B. Velarmino, 8ID Commander, lauded the joint anti-illegal logging operation of Army, Navy and PNP for exercising its mandate as protector of environment and natural resources by assisting the DENR in enforcing environmental laws. Further, he reiterated the 8ID under his command will continue support to the DENR in implementing its environmental protection programs.