3 illegal loggers caught in Isabela
THREE suspected illegal loggers were arrested in Echague, Isabela while in the act of transporting illegally-cut timber products, Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) director, Brigadier Steve B. Ludan said Thursday.
Suspects Pedferlyn Salvador, 47; Gilbert Domingo,27; and Jomar Adzuara,25; all residents of Barangay Villa Bello in Jones municipality were found on board a 6×6 truck loaded with 157 pieces of assorted lumber, said the official.
The 1,751 board feet of illegally-cut lumber was valued at P70,000.
Ludan said the three were intercepted by local policemen manning an anti-illegal logging checkpoint in Bgy. Pag-asa 9 p.m. Tuesday.
When asked to produce their documents, all the three can give is an old Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) permit which they have already used in their previous delivery, said the Cagayan Valley police director.
Ludan said the three were held at the Echague police station and charged with violation of Presidential Decree 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.
Their truck and cargo were also confiscated.
Ludan commended the Isabela Police Provincial Office headed by Colonel James Cipriano for their sustained anti-illegal logging campaign.
“I enjoin all police units to keep a watchful eye against violators of our environmental laws. Let us send them the strong message that we do not condone acts against our mother nature,” Ludan said as he called on all other Cagayan Valley police units to continue their unrelenting effort to save the forest and maritime resources.
