MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, January 9 (PIA) --- Elements of the 65th Infantry (Stalwart) Battalion of the Philippine Army have confiscated an improvised log cutter at Barangay Lidasan in Kapai town, this province.
Col. Daniel Lucero, 103rd Infantry Brigade Commander, said the improvised log cutter of an Isuzu B162 Engine with blade was confiscated by the Stalwart troopers last week while they were patrolling the barangay in support to the government’s anti-illegal campaign
He said the log cutter was owned by a certain Amer Dimacuta, 32 yrs old, married and a resident of Brgy Lidasan. It is now in the custody of the 65th IB for proper disposition and safekeeping purposes.
In a related development, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government is now finalizing the filing of illegal logging charges against several individuals in relation to the recent seizure of truckloads of logs in the province.
During his meeting with Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz last week, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman disclosed that the task force headed by Col. Lucero has seized 25 truckloads of logs in an operation in Kapai town.
Formed to curb illegal logging in the province, he said the task force recommended the filing of appropriate charges against barangay officials believed to be involved in the logging operation in the area.
The illegal logging in the province was blamed by some for exacerbating the effects of Tropical Storm Sendong resulting in a heavy death toll in Iligan city.
Aside from his total log ban directives, the ARMM Governor has also issued a moratorium on the issuance of private land timber permits so as not to provide loggers any excuse.
Meanwhile, Hataman also disclosed that the ARMM government will be forging a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the greening program and the provision of alternative livelihood to carabao loggers in the autonomous region.
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