TWO century-old lauan (mahogany) trees in the highlands of Barangay Damutan, Hinobaan in Negros Occidental were reported to have been illegally cut by unknown individuals last week.
Provincial Legal Officer Jose Maria Valencia said he got the report from Task Force Ilahas when they went to the area and discovered slabs of hard wood that appeared to be freshly cut by alleged illegal loggers.
The area forms part of the 50-hectare forest land formerly occupied by Insular Lumber Company which has been already been closed to business operation in the past years.
They have not yet to obtain the exact number of boardfeet of illegally cut logs, Valencia said.
He added that he will go to the site soon along with the Task Force Ilahas to conduct an investigation.
