14th Congress of the Republic ) 
of the Philippines 
1 
lSt Regular Session 
'1 
Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This legislative measure seeks to amend Section 80 of Presidential Decree 
No. 705, otherwise known as the "Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines", as 
amended by Presidential Decree No. 1775. 
It aims to mobilize barangay officials to help the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine National Police personnel 
in protecting our forests. 
Under this bill, aside from the forest officer or employee of the Forest 
Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
or any officer of the Philippine National Police, any barangay official is now given 
the authority to arrest, even without warrant, and file complaints with the 
appropriate official authorized by law to conduct a preliminary investigation of 
criminal case, any person who has committed or is committing in his presence, 
or attempting to commit an offense against the forestry law, subject to Section 
5, Rule 113, of the Rules of Criminal Procedure. 
The earnest approval of this legislative measure is therefore, reyested. 


14th Congress of the Republic ) 
of the Philippines 
1 
lSt Regular Session 
'1 
SENATE 
S B a 7 6  
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Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. 
AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 80 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 705, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE REVISED FORESTRY CODE OF THE PHILPPINES, AS AMENDED 
BY PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1775 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
SECTION 1. Section 80 of Presidential Decree No. 705, as amended by 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
Presidential Decree No. 1775, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 80. Arrest: institution of criminal actions. - A forest officer 
or employee of the Bureau, (or any) AN OFFICER OF THE PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL POLICE OR ANY BARANGAY OFFICIAL (personnel of the 
Philippine Constabulary/Integrated National Police) shall arrest even 
without warrant any person who has committed or is committing or 
attempting to commit in his presence any of the offenses defined in this 
Chapter, SUBJECT TO SECTION 5, RULE 113, OF THE RULES OF 
CRIMINAL PROCEEDURE. He shall also seize and confiscate, in favor of 
the Government, the tools and equipment used in committing the offense. 
The arresting forest officer or employee, OFFICER OF THE PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL POLICE OR ANY BARANGAY OFFICIAL shall thereafter deliver 
within six (6) hours from the time of arrest and seizure, the offender and 
the confiscated forest products, tools and equipment and file the proper 
compliant with, the appropriate official designated by law to conduct 
preliminary investigation and file information in Court. 
If the arrest and seizure are made in the forest, far from the 
authorities designated by law to conduct investigations, the delivery to, 
and filing of the complaint with, the latter shall be done within a 
reasonable time sufficient for ordinary travel from the place of arrest to 
the place of delivery. The seized products, materials and equipment shall 
be immediately disposed of in accordance with forestry administrative 
orders promulgated by the Department Head. 
The Department Head may deputize any OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE 
OF ANY agency OF THE GOVERNMENT, (agency, barangay or barrio 
official,) or any qualified person to protect the forest and exercise the 
power or authority provided in the preceding paragraphs. 
Reports and complaints regarding the commission of any offenses 
defined in this Chapter, not committed in the presence of any forest 
officer or employee, AN OFFICER OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE 
OR ANY BARANGAY OFFICIAL OR DEPUTIZED OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF 
ANY AGENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT (or any personnel of the Philippine 
Constabulary/Integrated National Police of any of the deputized officers or 
officials) shall immediately be investigated by the forest officer assigned in 


the area (or any personnel of the Philippine Constabulary/Integrated 
National Police) where the offense was allegedly committed, OR BY ANY 
QUALIFIED PERSON AUTHORIZED TO PROTECT THE FOREST OR 
EXERCISE THE POWERS UNDER THIS SECTION who shall thereupon 
receive the evidence supporting the report or complaint. 
If 
there is a prima facie evidence to support the complaint or 
report, the investigating forest officer (and/or members of the Philippine 
Constabulary/Integrated National Police) OR BY ANY QUALIFIED PERSON 
AUTHORIZED TO PROTECT THE FOREST OR EXERCISE THE POWERS 
UNDER THIS SECTION shall file the necessary complaint with the 
appropriate official authorized by law to conduct a preliminary 
investigation of criminal case and file an information in Court.” 
Section 2. Rules and Regulations. The Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources and the Department of Interior and Local Government shall 
jointly issue the rules and regulations of this Act within thirty (30) days after its 
effectivity. 
SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. 
All laws, executive orders, executive 
issuances, rules and regulations or part thereof inconsistent or contrary to the 
provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 4. 
Separability Clause. In case any provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue in full force and effect. 
SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after 
its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.