2021 RECAP: 78 INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL LOGGING ACTIVITIES IN CAR

A total of 78 individuals engaged in illegal logging activities were arrested by the highland cops as the Police Regional Office Cordillera enforce its mandate in protecting the environment.

According to the records of the Regional Operations Management Division (ROMD), the 78 arrests in Calendar Year (C.Y.) 2021 is a significant increase as compared to the 61 arrests recorded in C.Y. 2020.

Same records also revealed that there is a total of 558 anti-illegal logging operations conducted by the PROCOR Cops that resulted in the confiscation of 11,637,908.63 board feet of illegally sawn lumbers amounting to Php 6,156,282.00.

Further, Kalinga Police Provincial Office (PPO) has recorded the highest number of arrests with 22 arrested individuals followed by Apayao PPO with 18 arrests, Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) & Mountain Province PPO with nine (9) arrests each, Abra PPO & Benguet PPO with seven (7) arrests each, and Ifugao PPO with six (6) arrested individuals.

Aside from the anti-illegal logging efforts, PROCOR Cops have been also active in environmental preservation by conducting tree planting activities, clean-up drives and forest patrols.

According to the records of the Regional Community Affairs and Development Division (RCADD), in C.Y. 2021, PROCOR Cops has planted a total of 73,534 assorted seedlings of fruit-bearing trees and non-fruit-bearing trees in the Region. (PROCOR-PIO)