Troops raid sawmill, seize logs

GOVERNMENT authorities have shut down a sawmill and confiscated illegally cut logs in the hinterlands of Lanao del Norte province, a top military official said Thursday.

Army’s 1st Infantry Division (1ID) commander Major General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, said the illegal operation of the sawmill was uncovered after an informant tipped them about its existence.

Cruz said Colonel Ricardo Jalad, commander of the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion (35IB), along with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) and the police, raided the sawmill at 2 p.m. of Wednesday at Malingao village, Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

The sawmill was owned and operated by Eddie Solatorio, who failed to present any documents to prove its operation is legal, according to Cruz.

The raiding team confiscated a total of 27 round logs of different species, he said.

He said the raid is in support to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) mandate in protecting the environment.

He also lauded the concerned citizen who tipped them the illegal operation of the sawmill.

Cruz encouraged the public to join, through Bayanihan spirit, in mitigating the effect of calamities caused by human activities. (Bong Garcia)