Army’s 6ID probes link of junior officer to illegal logging in Central Mindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 28): Army’s 6ID probes link of junior officer to illegal logging in Central Mindanao

The Army’s Sixth Infantry Division (6ID) here is currently investigating a junior officer and several others for their connection to the transport of hot lumber aboard two military trucks in Alamada, North Cotabato.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, 6ID spokesman, said 6ID commander Major Gen. Romeo Gapuz has ordered a thorough investigation on the matter and the filing of charges against those involved in the illegal activity.

Members of the Alamada police seized the illegally cut logs, numbering to 28 pieces, on Nov. 22 in the mountain village of Kitapugong aboard military trucks with 6ID markings and escorted by military soldiers.

“The general (Gapuz) has vowed to throw the books to the people behind the unlawful act,” Hermoso said.

He identified a certain Capt. Sarcon Angi, a junior officer at the 6ID unit, as the possessor of the cargo but refused to elaborate pending ongoing investigation.

He also said an altercation occurred between the police and military personnel escorting the cargo during the seizure procedure but was abruptly stopped by their senor officers.

“A police officer misconstrued the body movement of one of the Army man and fired hitting him at the foot but no encounter occurred,” Hermoso clarified.

The seized cargo was turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Office in Midsayap town, also in North Cotabato.

Ambulo Batugan, DENR-Midsayap officer, said the logs have no permit, prompting them to theorize that it came might from protected timberland areas in Alamada.

Both North Cotabato and its neighboring province of Maguindanao, a province-component of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, have earlier declared a total log ban in a bid to save its remaining forests.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=591554