Acting on the order of Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, the composite unit of the National Bureau of Investigation-Davao (NBI-Davao) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 11 (DENR 11) conducted a raid on illegal structures at the protected area in Marahan, Marilog District, Davao City.
The raid netted two individuals on November 24, 2022.
NBI-Davao agent Eli Leaño Jr. reported during the recent Regional Law Enforcement Coordination Council (RLECC) meeting that the structure was constructed in a protected area. It has no building permit and has a sawmill.
“There were allegations that in Marahan there was this structure without a building permit being secured and that structure was also constructed in an area that is protected for a facade for a rest house. That is a forested area so it is a land-protected area. True to the information there were illegally cut logs of hardwood and Lawaan,” Leaño told media.
Two individuals were arrested and were charged with the violation of Presidential Decree No. 705 also known as the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines, violation of the IPRA Law or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act 1997 (Republic Act No. 8371 of 1997), and violation of the Anti-Illegal Logging Act of the Philippines.
The logs were also confiscated by the DENR 11.
Leaño said the structure, which was allegedly owned by a certain John Agonia, was raided previously by the DENR 11 and the Philippine National Police 11 (PNP 11) but yielded no result.
He said NBI 11 has been monitoring and surveillance illegal structures in the protected areas in Marahan, Marilog District.
“In fact, there have been reported complaints lodged in our office about these illegal structures in the protected areas in Marahan and Marilog. We are conducting surveillance and monitoring in these areas. Meron kaming mga number of, hindi ko na lang i-di-disclose ang mga pangalan because it might pre-empt the future operations,” he said.
Marilog District is now considered an emerging tourist destination due to the number of tourist spots, restaurants, cafes, and accommodations thriving in the area.
