Ten individuals were caught in the act hauling more than 20 Benguet Pine poles along the Ambuklao Road, within the Lower Agno Watershed Forest Reserve (LAWFR).
They are to be charged for violation of Sec. 77 of Presidential Decree No. 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, as amended by Republic Act No, 7161. Specifically, the violation is for cutting, gathering and/or collecting timber or other products without license ot permit.
To face charges for violations of the Revised Forestry Code is a certain Benigno Martin and his cousins. According to them, the Benguet Pine poles are intended for the former’s mother wake. They claimed that they are not aware of such violation and that they have asked permission with the Punong Barangay. Explained to them were the processes and requirements on how to acquire the necessary permit for fire wood for traditional practices during deaths.
The forest products were confiscated. Criminal charges will be filed after the inventory, scaling, seizure, turn-over of the confiscated forest products to the CENRO Baguio.
The violators, when proven guilty may each spend up four years in jail and/or pay a fine in the an amount of ten thousand pesos (P10,000) for violating the Forestry Code, PENR Officer Edgardo Sison Flor said.
CENR Officer Leandro L.De Jesus likewise said that continues operation and monitoring of illegal loggers are being conducted in support of Forest Protection and Anti-illegal Logging Program of the DENR.
