CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here said at least 298 illegal logging cases have been filed by the Aquino administration against suspects including mayors and other local officials.
The DENR regional office here said the filing of cases followed Pres. Aquino’s order for a freeze on logging nationwide.
The agency said in a report that the 298 illegal logging cases have already reached the courts in various parts of the country, even as it noted that many of the cases identified local officials, including some mayors, as respondents.
“Since the implementation of the total log ban as ordered by the President, the DENR had cancelled all logging permits and no logging concessions have been allowed in our forests,” the DENR also said.
The DENR said that it has already curbed all illegal logging operations nationwide and not a single logging permit has been signed. No one operates any logging concessions in our forests,” the DENR also said.
The President earlier declared 2011 as National Year of Forests, as he ordered the DENR, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces to keep watch against illegal loggers and to confiscate already cut forest products.
