Inter-agency Cooperation Thwarts Illegal Maritime Activities in Bicol

LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office


Thursday, 04 February 2010

Inter-agency cooperation among the Philippine Navy and local authorities in Bicol resulted to the recovery of 400 flitches of illegally cut logs and capture of a vessel engaged in illegal fishing. Diesel Fast Craft 321 (DF 321) with a SEAL team and intelligence operatives on board recovered the logs 7 kilometers off Dinahican, Quezon while being towed by two separate vessels early morning of Wednesday, 03 February 2010.

COMMO JOEL BABAS, Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NAVFORSOL) Commander reports to VICE ADMIRAL FERDINAND GOLEZ, Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy that said forest products amounting to 1.5 million pesos were intercepted by DF 321 during a maritime operation. The Navy has turned over the recovered items- approximately worth P1.5 million pesos- to the DENR. Meanwhile PG 378 apprehended a vessel- locally known as Superlights- engaged in illegal fishing at 8 kilometers southwest off Cabarian Pt, Libon, Albay.

COMMO BABAS added that the operations are a component of the Navy’s relentless effort to protect the country’s natural resources and biodiversity both inland and at seas. Incessant illegal logging activities has been blamed as the primary cause of landslides and flooding that has claimed hundreds of lives and properties especially in Quezon in the year 2004.

Thru cooperative efforts among concerned agencies enforcing maritime law, the NAVFORSOL in July last year recovered approximately 600 pieces of illegally cut logs in Infanta, Quezon after DF 321 chased unidentified motor bancas towing volumes of round logs in the area.