GENERAL TINIO, Nueva Ecija – A total of 153 pieces of illegally-sawn lumber flitches worth P440,676.20 found abandoned in a river here were recovered during an anti-illegal logging operation conducted in Barangay Rio Chico on Friday.

The latest successful operation came two days after authorities seized on Wednesday some 127 pieces of “hot lumber flitches” having a total volume of 6,833.36 board feet, worth P410,019 at the Sumacbao River in Bgy. Pias, said Acting Nueva Ecija Provincial Police head Col. Jess B. Mendez.

During Wednesday’s operation, at least eight suspects, including the alleged illegal logging operator, managed to flee after the arresting lawmen were “mobbed” by local residents, numbering more than 100 people, including women and children, allowing all eight suspects to escape.

Mendez said the anti-illegal logging operation was conducted in Bgy. Rio Chico was spearheaded by the local police led by Maj. Lawrence Lira, together with the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company headed by Lt. Col. Robert D. Agustin, the San Leonardo and Peñaranda police, the PENRO and CENRO, and the Army’s 84th Infantry Battalion.

“Tumaas kasi ang tubig sa ilog dahil sa mga pag-ulan kaya bumaba ang lahat ng kahoy na ipinaanod galing sa itaas,” said Mendez.

Recovered during the twin operations were 126 pieces of assorted illegally-sawn lumber with a volume of 6,446 board feet and 27 pieces of various wood sizes, measured at 673 board feet, with an estimated market value of P386,800 and P53,876.20, respectively.

Agustin said the recovered illegal wood shipment has been taken for temporary safekeeping at the 1st PMFC headquarters in Cabanatuan City and the local police.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Steve A. Gosuico