The anti-illegal logging task force of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Negros Oriental confiscated Wednesday more than 734 board feet of illegally cut lumber in the outskirts of Dumaguete City.
The task force, headed by Francisco Compasion and Toto Amarante, confiscated from seven persons the lumber, which were loaded on an Isuzu Elf coming from a creek in Barangay Cantil-e, Dumaguete.
In an interview, the suspects claimed they were only paid to cut the naturally-grown Salngan tree at the property allegedly owned by a certain Raul Albina in Cantil-e, an outskirts barangay of this capital city.
However, upon ocular inspection, the Salngan tree was cut from the side of the creek, which is considered public property.
Also confiscated were two chainsaws, owned by Jesus and Conrado Yosores, only one of which was registered with DENR.
Charges of violating provisions of Section 68 of Presidential Decree 705 as amended by EO 277 are being readied against the seven suspects for the illegal cutting of the Salngan tree, and for violations of the RA 9175 otherwise known as the chainsaw act. (PNA/Juancho Gallarde)