The undocumented lumber seized by NBI agents. Photo by GEMI FORMARAN
NBI agents seize ‘hot lumber’ in Quezon
PAGBILAO, Quezon – National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized more than 7,500 board feet of undocumented lumber while being transported in a 12-wheeler truck along Maharlika Highway, Barangay Malicboy in this coastal town resulting in the arrest of four persons, including the alleged female owner.
NBI-Quezon head Atty. Bernard de la Cruz said the arrested were the alleged owner of the “hot lumber,” the truck driver, and two others.
The official added that the three suspects were all residents of Calbayog City, Samar, while the truck driver was from Padre Burgos, Quezon.
De la Cruz said they received a “tip” from an informant regarding the illegal transport of forest products from Calbayog City to Malvar in Batangas.
“True enough, our men who immediately prepositioned along the highway right after coordinating with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Tayabas and the local police eventually spotted the truck at around 11:00 p.m.,” said De la Cruz.
Case-in-charge Agent Elbert Maliwanag said upon checking the contraband, the suspects failed to present any permit or documents, prompting them to arrest them and confiscate the lumber.
Maliwanag said the 657 pieces of lumber, mostly Lauaan species, were estimated to be worth P423,280.
In a phone interview, the truck owner said the shipment has the corresponding permits issued by the local DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) Region 8. However, NBI agents found “discrepancies” in the documents and seized the contraband.
The truck owner said he thought that the shipment had permits, and it was the reason he allowed the alleged owner of the lumber to hire his truck.
Maliwanag confirmed that the suspect indeed has a “transport permit,” but it was not intended for the Lauaan species. “The permit she showed to us was for Gubas and Palkata species,” he said.
