DAVAO CITY - The National Bureau of Investigation is monitoring the illegal sale of lands inside the ancestral domain and the building of illegal structures in Marilog.

“There have reports and complaints lodged in our office about these illegal structures in protected area in Marahan and Marilog…we regularly conduct surveillance and monitoring in that area,” said National Bureau of Investigation-XI spokesperson Agent Elli Leaño.

Their continued surveillance resulted in a raid conducted by NBI agents on Nov. 24 at an illegally built resort in Marahan.

“The NBI was requested by no less than the chief executive, the Mayor of Davao City, Baste Duterte we learned that the Marahan case has already been raided previously by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources accompanied by the Philippine National Police but there was nothing good that resulted,” Leaño said.

The Office of the City Mayor then requested the NBI to conduct a raid on the illegal structures.

Leaño said the structure in Marahan was constructed without a building permit and built in an area protected under the IPRA (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act) Law.

During the raid they also discovered a sawmill 30 meters from the structure with illegally cut hardwood Lauan logs. The timber was confiscated by the DENR-11 personnel who accompanied the NBI agents in the raid.

Two persons were arrested and charged for violation of Presidential Decree 75 (Anti-Illegal Logging Act).

“They will also be facing charges for violation of the building permit code and the IPRA law,” Leaño said.

The NBI-11 Spokesperson said there will be more raids that will be conducted on these illegal structures in the protected area and ancestral domain. (PIA/RG Alama)