Navy Seizes Illegal Logs

MANILA, Feb. 5 -- Inter-agency cooperation among the Philippine Navy and local authorities in Bikol resulted to the recovery of 400 flitches of illegally cut logs and capture of a vessel engaged in illegal fishing, it was reported Friday.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said Diesel Fast Craft 321 (DF 321) with a SEAL team and intelligence operatives on board recovered the logs seven kilometers off Dalahican, Quezon while being towed by two separate vessels early morning of Wednesday.

Commodore Joel Babas, Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NAVFORSOL) Commander, reported to Navy chief Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez that the forest products worth P1.5 million were intercepted by DF 321 during a maritime operation.

The Navy has turned over the recovered items to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Meanwhile, PG 378 apprehended a vessel, locally known as Superlights, engaged in illegal fishing at 8 kms southwest off Cabarian Pt., Libon, Albay.

Babas said that the operations are component of the Navy's relentless effort to protect the country's natural resources and biodiversity both inland and at seas.

"Incessant illegal logging activities has been blamed as the primary cause of landslides and flooding that has claimed hundreds of lives and properties, especially in Quezon in 2004," said Arevalo.

"Through cooperative efforts among concerned agencies enforcing maritime law, the NAVFORSOL in July last year recovered approximately 600 pieces of illegally cut logs in Infanta, Quezon after DF 321 chased unidentified motor bancas towing volumes of round logs in the area," added Arevalo. (PNA)

 

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