LA UNION – Supporting the campaign against illegal logging in the municipality, Naguilian Municipal Judge Romeo Atillo, Jr. passed a decision convicting Julius Binonga  of violating Republic Act 9175 for illegal carrying and possessing a chainsaw.
RA 9175 otherwise known as Chainsaw Act of 2002 Sec. 7 provides. “selling, purchasing, reselling, transferring distri-buting or possessing a chainsaw without proper permit. Any person who sells or otherwise disposes or possess a chainsaw without first securing the necessary permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall be punished with imprisonment of four years two months and 1 day to six years or a fine of not less that fifteen thousand pesos but not more that thirty thousand pesos or both at the discretion of the court”… and the chainsaw confiscated in favor of the government”.
In his decision, Judge Atillo passed an 11-page  decision last May 21, 2013 and which available to the media on August 8 on criminal case no. 4935 against certain Julius Binonga to pay fine of fifteen thousand pesos and the subject chainsaw was ordered confiscated in favor of the government.
DENR RED Samuel Peñafiel says the decision is another success in the DENR’s continuing campaign against illegal logging. He urged the whole citizenry to be very vigilant in their areas and report any violations of environmental laws to the PNP or any DENR Office, particularly RA 9175 and RA 953 and PD 705 as amended which punishes illegal cutting of trees in public areas without permit, and illegal gathering of forest products and illegal cutting of trees in public areas and transport therein including conveyances.#