P535K illegal Lauan timber seized in Cagayan; suspect identified, but still at large

RIZAL, Cagayan – Authorities confiscated more than ₱535,000 worth of illegally cut lauan timber during a joint anti-illegal logging operation in Rizal, Cagayan, on July 21, while the identified suspect remains at large.

According to a report cited by 95.7 XFM Tuguegarao, the operation was conducted by personnel from the Rizal Municipal Police Station, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Lannig in Solana, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 2, and other law enforcement agencies following reports of alleged violations of the country's forestry law.

The operation resulted in the seizure of eight pieces of red and white lauan round logs with a total volume of 10,000.372 board feet, valued at ₱500,018.65.

Authorities also confiscated six pieces of red and white lauan flitches measuring 549.82 board feet, valued at ₱35,685, bringing the total estimated value of the seized forest products to ₱535,703.65.

Under Section 78 of Presidential Decree No. 705, or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, the cutting, gathering, collecting, or transporting of timber and other forest products from forest lands without the necessary permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is prohibited.

Further investigation identified the suspect only by the alias "Lito," a resident of Lasam, Cagayan. A witness reportedly saw him conducting illegal kaingin (slash-and-burn farming) in the area. Authorities said the suspect allegedly intended to convert about 2.3 hectares of forest land into a corn plantation.

As of this writing, the suspect has not been arrested.

In a statement posted on the Cagayan Police Provincial Office (PPO) Facebook page, Provincial Director PCOL Mardito G. Anguluan underscored the importance of protecting the country's forests and warned that authorities will continue to intensify operations against illegal logging, kaingin, and other environmental violations.

"Ang ating kagubatan ay mahalagang yaman na dapat pangalagaan at ipreserba para sa kasalukuyan at sa mga susunod na henerasyon. Hindi natin kukunsintihin ang anumang paglabag sa batas na sumisira sa ating kalikasan. Patuloy na paiigtingin ng Cagayan Police Provincial Office, katuwang ang DENR at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan, ang mga operasyon laban sa illegal logging, kaingin, at iba pang gawaing nagdudulot ng pagkasira ng ating kagubatan," Anguluan said.