By Zaldy Comanda
Camp Dangwa, Benguet – The Cordillera police confiscated a total of 17,050 board feet of assorted lumber valued at P561,527 from March 1 to April 12.
In March, police conducted 13 operations that resulted in the arrest of six individuals and the seizure of 5,521 board feet of lumber worth of P288,167.
In the first two weeks of April, 19 police operations led to the confiscation of 11,529 board feet worth P273,359.
Assorted abandoned lumber with a total volume of 857 board feet was recovered in the province of Apayao with an estimated value of P15,426.00. In Benguet, 29 pieces of abandoned lumber totaling 143.50 board ft worth P4,018 was seized.
In Mountain Province, 97 pieces of abandoned lumber with a total volume of 805 boardft worth P23,777 was recovered, while 32 assorted pieces of abandoned lumber with a volume of 526 board feet worth P42,080 was recovered in Kalinga.
The relentless campaign against illegal logging yielded no arrests despite police efforts to track down those responsible in illegal cutting of trees.
All the confiscated lumber were turned over to environment officials of the concerned municipality.