Gov’t operatives raid unlicensed sawmill

In line with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Elisea Gozun’s instruction for a no let-up operation against illegal loggers and timber poachers, the DENR operatives in Region 8 in coordination with the Philippine National Police, the municipal and barangay local government units of Paranas, Samar, and the Philippine Army, raided on April 21, 2004, RCL Sawmill which is illegally operating in Barangay, Buray, Paranas, Samar.

Sources said that the RCL Sawmill allegedly owned by a certain Ramon Co, has been operating several years ago without permit from the government. It serves as the recipient of majority of the lumber/flitches illegally sourced from the rich forests of Samar inside the Samar Island Natural Park proclaimed by the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with Proclamation No. 442 last August 13, 2003.

Based on Search Warrant issued by Judge C. Abarquez of the RTC Branch in Basey, Samar, the operatives searched the sawmill bodega. When the team searched the premises at about 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon on April 21, 2004, the team discovered that the sawmill equipment accessories were hastily dismantled. The team recovered approximately 4,000 board feet of lumber of assorted species, which were stocked inside the bodega.

As of presstime, the operatives are still in control of the bodega and are undertaking the inventory of the seized sawmill equipment and its accessories for further legal action against its owner.

Regional Executive Director Leonardo R. Sibbaluca of DENR 8 lamented that while the Department is intensifying its effort to protect the forests, there are some people who do not care. Instead, they take advantage of the forests for their own profit. It is also sad to note that while government and some NGOs and People’s Organizations in Community-Based Forest Management areas are intensifying efforts to reforest our denuded areas and conserve existing plantations, the illegal loggers and timber poachers are destroying the forests.

Director Sibbaluca lauded the efforts of the personnel from the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police of Paranas, Samar together with Vice-Mayor Lito Rama of Paranas and two Barangay Kagawads of Barangay Buray and media representative Magdalina E. Ayila from the San Juanico Times who ably assisted the DENR team in the operation.

The DENR team is composed of personnel from the DENR Central Office; Regional Office in Tacloban City headed by Regional Technical Director Felipe S. Calub and field office in Catbalogan, Samar headed by Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Manuel Ferreras.

Barangay Buray in the town of Paranas is one of the 20 identified hotspots for timber poaching in the Region. This raid is the third major and operation conducted by the DENR operatives in Samar Island since the start of 2004.