HOT LUMBER. BARMM environment personnel audit seized Lauan lumber abandoned in an illegal sawmill in Barangay Nabalawag, Barira, Maguindanao on Oct. 2, 2022. (Photo by MBLT-5)
COTABATO CITY — Marine soldiers busted a sawmill operation processing illegally cut trees in Barira town, Maguindanao.
In his report to the Bangsamoro government’s Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE), Major Melchor Gonzaludo, commander of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-5 (MBLT-5), said the operation last Sunday night was prompted by information shared by civilians
During the raid, the soldiers were backed by personnel from Barira town police and MENRE.
The sawmill operation was located at Sitio Bulubudtua, Barangay Nabalawag of Barira town, said Gonzaludo.
(Photo by MBLT-5)
Authorities seized some 20,748 board feet of lumber with an estimated commercial value of P1,659,840, two chainsaws, and a heavy-duty bandsaw.
The red and white Lauan trees being processed there are believed to come from the remaining forests of Barira town.
The haul of lumber is now temporarily in the custody of MBLT-5 and will be transported to MENRE’s facility for proper disposition, said Gonzaludo.
“MBLT-5 will remain committed to support the anti-illegal logging campaign of the government and enforce environmental laws for the protection and preservation of our forests and our mother nature,” Gonzaludo added.