PAGADIAN, Zamboanga del Sur -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it is conducting an in-depth probe to unmask the people behind the cutting of trees on Mount Timolan, a protected landscape in the nearby town of San Miguel, this province.
This, as a joint team of NBI, soldiers and environment authorities found piles of newly cut trees of Lawaan and Yakal species on Saturday in Barangay Dumalian, which is part of Mount Timolan ranges.
Israel Ivan Peralta, NBI Pagadian District Office chief, said Monday they are tracing “which market these loggers were dealing the hardwood logs and timbers” so that appropriate charges can be filed against them.
Ben Acana, chief of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said Monday that another pile of newly-cut logs were found two kilometers away from where the cut trees were discovered.
Acana said the trees were cut inside the declared protected landscape and that they also found traces of illegal logging activities on Mount Timolan.
Acana said the cut logs and timbers were estimated to be worth PHP200,000.
Mount Timolan is declared as a protected landscape by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 354 issued by then President Joseph Estrada on August 14, 2000. (PNA)
