AFP Taking Lead Vs Loggers In Mindanao

From MindaNews (Dec 10): AFP Taking Lead Vs Loggers In Mindanao

The military has stepped forward in support of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s directive to stop logging activities and announced yesterday that, beginning Jan. 1, 2013, it will take the lead in the campaign against illegal loggers in Mindanao. Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio Osias IV, the 4th Infantry Division (4 ID) spokesman, said this is in response to Aquino’s issuance of Executive Order No. 23: “Declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the Anti-illegal Logging Task Force.” Osias said it was agreed at the special meeting with the National Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force at Camp Aguinaldo last September that strategies in operating against illegal loggers in Mindanao will be modified in view of the presence insurgents and armed groups in the area. With this, the “Anti-illegal Logging Task Force Resolution No.005 Series of 2012: A resolution converting the Anti-illegal Logging Operations in Mindanao from a civilian to an active military operation” will be implemented, he said. Present in the meeting were the secretaries of the Departments of Defense (DND) and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Maj. Gen. Nestor A. Añonuevo, 4ID commander, who is also one of the proponents of the plan when he was still in the AFP General Headquarters, already gave instructions to all units under his command to prepare for the eventual handover of operations against illegal logging to Army units under the 4ID area of responsibility. In Caraga Region, Col. Ronald N. Albano PA, 402nd Infantry Brigade (402IB) commander, conducted a series of meetings with DENR-Region 13 officials on preparations for the anti-illegal logging operations and the strategies that will be employed upon the implementation of the resolution. The 402IB is also a member of the newly created “Multi-sectoral Forest Protection Committee” under the Regional Development Council in Caraga that aims to supplement EO 23 of the President. “We are very pleased on how much the people are putting their trust in the AFP to lead in the anti-illegal logging campaign of the government. This is another challenge for us to do better than what we are already doing in terms of environmental protection,” said Abano. “That is why we are also employing the aid of the DENR and other agencies in providing us with the technical assistance we need to educate our personnel on this new undertaking.” “Rest assured that we, together with the other government agencies, will do our part and we will do it the best way we can,” he added.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/385183/afp-taking-lead-vs-loggers-in-mindanao