MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reactivated a multi-sectoral anti-illegal task force in Palawan amid reports that timber products are being illegally shipped to Malaysia.
The task force will be led by Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez and provincial environment and natural resources officer Juan de la Cruz, in partnership with representatives of the military, police and other sectors.
De la Cruz said the task force agreed to immediately deploy personnel of the Marine Special Boat Unit, and the Navy will also conduct naval patrol blockade to apprehend vehicles transporting illegal forest products and wildlife.
He said Marines and the Philippine National Police have agreed to intensify their arrest of poachers and illegal transporters within their areas of jurisdiction.
Anti-illegal logging operations will also be conducted in identified hotspots.
Earlier, the provincial government of Palawan raised alarm over the rampant illegal logging trade between the province and Malaysia, through the town of Kudat in Sabah.
Records show that motor launches that supposedly came from Palawan unloaded logs in the Malaysian port in January and June.
The task force said they have yet to confirm if all lumber and rattan poles discovered in the Malaysian port came from Palawan.