Fifteenth Congress of the Repu blic 
) 
) 
) 
of the Philippines 
' 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No.2 501 
H'f~,:"i\l ; ... , L 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANA TORY NOTE 
It seems everyone has not learned from the past disasters. The tragedy in Ormoc, Leyte; 
Provinces of Aurora, Quezon; and Guinsaugon, Leyte, where hundreds lost' their lives and 
millions worth of properties and crops were destroyed, Again, everyone is blaming illegal 
logging activities as the main culpriC But, has anybody been held accountable for the numerous 
death and destruction brought about by illegal logging activities? None, so faL 
The debate on whether to institute a total or selective log ban for the enti re country is 
again raging on, With the current fiscal problems that the country face at the moment, the debate 
on what kind of log ban is preferred and best for this country will take time, In the meantime, 
quick measures must be put in place to remedy the situation, 
This bill proposes to increase the penalties for people who engage in illegal logging 
activities as defined in Presidential Decree No, 705, as amended, otherwise known as the 
"Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines," The current penalty provided under the law is not 
commensurate to the devastation and desolation that is brought about by such an unconscionable 
activity, 
Furthermore, this bill seeks stiffer penalties for government officials and personnel, 
members of the Anned Forces and other law enforcement agencies who engage and protect 
illegal loggers operating in their areas of jurisdiction, They must also be held accountable for 
turning a blind eye on the perpetrators, They must all be made to pay for their actions, The 
environment and the economy ofthis nation depend on it 
Hence, passage of this bill is urgently requested, 


Fifteenth Congress of the Repu blic 
of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.H. No. 250 1 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT AMENDING SECTION SEVENTY-EIGHT OF 
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NUMBERED SEVEN HUNDRED FIVE, AS 
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "REVISED FORESTRY COnE OF 
THE PHILIPPINES" 
t, 
Be it enacted 6y the Senate and House of RepresentatIves of the Philippines in Congress, 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 78 of Presidential Decree No. 705 is further amended to read as 
f6110ws: 
Section 78. Cutting, Gathering and/or Collecting Timber, or Other 
Forest Products Without Ucense. - Any person who shall cut, gather, collect, 
remove timber or other forest products from any forestland, or timber from 
alienable or disposable public land, or from private land, without any authority, or 
. possess timber or other forest products without the legal documents as required 
under existing forest laws and regulations, shall be punished BY RECLlJSION 
I'ERPETUA AND PAY A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (PI00,000.00): Provided, That in the case of partnership, 
associations, or corporations, the officers who ordered the cutting, gathering, 
collection or possession shall be liable, and if such ofilcers are aliens, they shall, 
in addition to the penalty, be deported without further proceedings on the part of 
the BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION: PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT IN 
CASE OF JURIDICAL PERSONS THE FINE IMPOSED SHALL NOT BE 
LESS THAN TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P250,000.00) 
BUT NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P500, 
000.00). 
IF TIlE PERSON CHARGED UNDER THIS SECTION IS A 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, OR EMPLOYEE, ANY MEMBER OF THE 
ARMED FORCES OF THE PHIUPPINES OR ANY MEMBER OF 
OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THE PENALTY OF 
RECLUSION 
PERPETUA TO DEATH 
AND 
THE ACCESSORY 
PENALTY OF PERPETUAL ABSOLUTE DISQUALIFICATION, AND A 
FINE OF NOT MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS 
(P200, 000.00). 
The Court shall further order the confiscation in favor of the government 
of the timber or any forest products cut, gathered, collected, removed, or 
possessed, as well as the machinery, equipment, implements and tools illegally 
used in the area where the' timber or forest products are found. 
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SECTION 2. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation, whichever comes earlier 
Approved, 
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