Nine arrested, illegal lumber worth P365,000 seized in Apayao

STA. MARCELA, Apayao, Philippines, Feb. 3 — Police seized more than 5,000 board feet of illegally sawn lumber worth over 365,000 pesos ($6,400) and arrested nine men during an anti-illegal logging operation in Apayao province, authorities said.

The Police Regional Office–Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO-CAR) said the suspects were caught on Feb. 2 in Barangay Sipa, Sta. Marcela, while hauling and loading forest products onto a dump truck.

The men included seven residents of Pudtol town, one from Kabugao in Apayao, and one from La Trinidad, Benguet province, according to the Apayao Police Provincial Office.

Authorities identified the seized wood as tanguile flitches with a total volume of 5,213.3 board feet and an estimated market value of 365,071 pesos.

Police said joint operatives from the 1st Apayao Provincial Mobile Force Company, Sta. Marcela Municipal Police Station, the provincial and regional intelligence units, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Community Environment and Natural Resources Office acted on a tip from a concerned citizen about the alleged transport of illegally cut timber.

The suspects were unable to present permits or legal documents authorizing the transport of the forest products, prompting their arrest, police said.

The nine men, along with the confiscated lumber and the truck, were taken to the custody of Sta. Marcela police for documentation and proper disposition.

They are set to face charges under Presidential Decree No. 705, or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, authorities added.