Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo yesterday warned of stiff sanctions against all concerned local chief executives – from governors, city and municipal mayors, including barangay chairmen – if they defy or fail to comply with President Benigno Aquino III’ directive for a total log ban in all natural and residual forests of the country.

“It is the local chief executives’ (LCEs’) statutory duty to enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the LGU and the exercise of its corporate powers, including the presidential directive on the total log ban,” the DILG chief said.

The warning came a few days after authorities seized 7,255 pieces of illegally cut logs worth P16 million in Butuan City while on its way to a wood processing company in Cagayan de Oro City late last month.

Robredo said that if a particular LCE fails to prevent the entry or transport of illegal logs or timber within their territorial jurisdiction, he or she will stand liable for any violation of the total log ban under Presidential Executive Order No. 23 issued in April 2011.

Section 2 of EO 23 provides for “a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests of the entire country is hereby declared unless lifted after the effectivity of this Executive Order.”

“Clearly, the regulatory measure magnifies the earnest desire of the government to protect our remaining forest cover areas by all those concerned LGUs. If they fail to comply or defy the presidential directive under EO 23, said LCEs will stand liable for any violation thereof,” the DILG chief said.

Robredo also issued a separate directive to PNP chief Gen. Nicanor Bartolome for the inclusion and implementation of a one-strike policy or immediate relief of police provincial directors or chiefs of police found to have been violating the log ban or remiss in preventing the entry or transport of illegal logs or timber within their assigned jurisdiction.

He said the importance of the PNP’s role in the anti-illegal logging campaign was underscored by the police organization’s inclusion in the newly-formed Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“Any member of the PNP is required, therefore, to ensure proper implementation of the logging ban within the areas of their deployment and any consequent failure should subject the violator to the one-strike policy rule,” Robredo said.

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