TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija, Jan. 27 – Environment authorities recovered 100 sacks of charcoal and over 4,000 board feet of illegally cut lumber in successive operations, in coordination with the local police, within the jurisdiction of Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Central Nueva Ecija based in this town, a ranking official reported on Friday.
Rosito Tobias, forest protection officer of CENRO-Central Nueva Ecija, said they first accosted at a police anti-criminality post the sacks of charcoal followed by the confiscation of 4,973 board feet of lumber allegedly owned by a certain Jose Caisip in Bongabon town.
The operations, he said, were conducted in line with the forest protection order of President Benigno Aquino III.
The owners of the hot forest products failed to present necessary documents, he said.
"We filed charges of violation of Presidential Decree 705 or anti-illegal logging against suspects Michael Sevidala, Teodulo Pelaez, Ronald Taluzan and Jerome Cudal," he said.
Tobias said that since the first day of this month, their office has recovered a total of 213 sacks of charcoal and more than 5,000 board feet of illegal lumber.
The forest products were transported to the DENR impounding area in Palayan City, he added. (PNA)
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