It seems like they are running out of things to destroy in our sea, so they have turned to our forests.
The four Chinese nationals who were arrested on Tuesday in Bulacan province were caught with P3.2 million worth of illegally cut lumber from the Sierra Madre Mountain ranges (“P3.2-M ‘hot’ logs seized from Chinese man, 4 others in Bulacan, Inquirer.net, 7/17/19). Thanks to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for its surveillance operations on the group’s activities.
Who gave these Chinese the permission to cut trees in the area? Are they claiming, too, that the Sierra Madre Mountain ranges are theirs? Aside from the West Philippine Sea, what else would they want to claim as their own? And how long are we going to allow these depredations? Are we really allowing them to rob us?
MARJANE DY, marjanedy2019@gmail.com