SECTION 18. Field O cers. – All o cials, technical personnel and forest guards employed in the
integrated protected area service or all persons deputized by the DENR, upon recommendation of the
Management Board shall be considered as eld o cers and shall have the authority to investigate and
search premises and buildings and make arrests in accordance with the rules on criminal procedure
for the violation of laws and regulations relating to the protected areas. Persons arrested shall be
brought to the nearest police precinct for investigation.
Nothing herein mentioned shall be construed as preventing regular law enforcers and police o cers
from arresting any person in the act of violating said laws and regulations.
SECTION 19. Special Prosecutors. – The Department of Justice shall designate special
prosecutors to prosecute violations of laws, rules and regulations in protected areas.
SECTION 20. Prohibited Acts. – Except as may be allowed by the nature of their categories and
pursuant to rules and regulations governing the same, the following acts are prohibited within
protected areas:
a. Hunting, destroying, disturbing, or mere possession of any plants or animals or products
derived therefrom without a permit from the Management Board;
b. Dumping of any waste products detrimental to the protected area, or to the plants and animals
or inhabitants therein;
c. Use of any motorized equipment without a permit from the Management Board;
d. Mutilating, defacing or destroying objects of natural beauty, or objects of interest to cultural
communities (of scenic value);
e. Damaging and leaving roads and trails in a damaged condition;
f. Squatting, mineral locating, or otherwise occupying any land;
g. Constructing or maintaining any kind of structure, fence or enclosures, conducting any business
enterprise without a permit;
h. Leaving in exposed or unsanitary conditions refuse or debris, or depositing in ground or in
bodies of water; and
i. Altering, removing destroying or defacing boundary marks or signs.
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