Malacañang on Sunday backed Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje’s move to relieve 31 DENR officials in Mindanao over illegal logging.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the illegal logging occurred despite an executive order against it, which has been in place for more than a year.

“Alam natin na ang EO 23, nakamandato na tigilan ang ganitong klase ng logging. Sabi ni Secretary Paje na after more than a year after the EO was issued bakit patuloy pa rin [ang illegal logging]?" she said on government-run dzRB radio.

She said that since the logs being transported were in areas under the watch of those officials, “they have some explaining to do.”

Paje earlier relieved 31 regional and provincial officials for failing to curb illegal logging in eastern and southern Mindanao.

The logging has continued after more than a year after President Benigno Aquino III imposed a ban on logging.

Earlier reports said the DENR seized more than 13 million board feet of logs despite Aquino’s issuance of EO No. 23 in February 2011, banning logging nationwide.

Paje was quoted as saying the 31 relieved officials will be investigated and may face administrative and criminal charges. — LBG, GMA News