Manila, June 18 -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday commended the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for stopping an alleged illegal chainsaw trading linked to unlawful logging in Oriental Mindoro.

DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the NBI-Mimaropa conducted an operation against the Kimala Trading Corporation in Poblacion, Zone II, Pinamalayan on June 9, which led to the arrest of Matt Jefferson Go and Miriam Go and the seizure of three unlicensed high-powered chainsaws.

"We thank the NBI for standing with us. Protecting our forests is not just an environmental duty-it is a climate and public safety imperative," Cuna said as quoted in a news release.

The DENR said the raid forms part of its...