A Quick Response Team (QRT) from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Manukan apprehends illegal lumber flitches being transported at Barangay Palaranan, Manukan in the late evening of February 18, 2023.
The QRT personnel headed by OIC Deputy CENRO Eugene S. Celi, upon the instruction and clearance of CENRO George E. Laolao, intercepted One (1) Suzuki Multicab loaded with fourteen (14) pieces of Molave flitches.
The successful apprehension of the illegal forest products came after CENRO Manukan received an information around 5’oclock in the afternoon of February 18, 2023 from the Regional Office thru a concerned citizen regarding the illegal cutting/harvesting of Molave Trees at the said barangay.
The CENRO Quick Response Team was dispatched to conduct surveillance in the area and make necessary preparation in the conduct of apprehension. Around 11:30 in the evening of the same day, the team were able to intercept a Suzuki Multicab loaded with Molave flitches covered with plastic transporting without the proper legal documents along the road of Palaranan. The Team was able to apprehend fourteen (14) pieces flitches of Molave species (𝘝𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘹 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢) with an equivalent volume of one-hundred sixty-eight (168) board feet or 0.396 cubic meters.
The said forest products including one (1) transport vehicle were immediately brought to Manukan Municipal Police Station for initial verification and temporary safe keeping.
DENR-CENRO Manukan reminded the public that cutting, gathering and/or collecting timber, or other forest products without license/permit is illegal and punishable by law pursuant to Section 77 of Presidential Decree (PD) 705 as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.
(Source: DENR Zamboanga Peninsula Facebook page)