2 held, P150K hot lumber seized at Ecija checkpoint
CARRANGLAN, Nueva Ecija – A brief chase by anti-illegal logging authorities at a checkpoint here led to the arrest of two men as well as the seizure of their Isuzu Elf close van and its contraband-load of illegally-sawn lumber flitches worth P150,000.
Provincial police director Col. Jaime O. Santos said his men teamed up with members of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-CENRO Muñoz led by Forester Alfredo Cag-as Kimayong and intercepted the suspect’s vehicle along the national highway in Bgy. Joson at 6:30 p.m.
The operation was prompted by a tip from a concerned citizen that a vehicle carrying illegally-sawn forest products would pass by the area coming from the North, said Santos.
Nabbed were the Isuzu Elf’s driver – Rickymar Santos, 31, of Atis Street, and his helper – Patrick Jerome Tolentino, 27, of Balite Street, both of Bgy. Paliwasan, San Miguel, Bulacan.
Santos said the checkpoint team flagged down the vehicle but it did not stop, forcing authorities to chase the suspects.
During inspection, the vehicle yielded undocumented lumber consisting of 1,052 board feet of assorted sizes of illegally-cut timber worth about P150,000.
Santos said the arrested suspects will be subjected to inquest proceedings while the vehicle and its illegal cargo were taken to the DENR-CENRO-Muñoz office for proper disposition.
