By Mike Crismundo
BUTUAN CITY – The relentless campaign of the Caraga police against illegal logging resulted in the apprehension of more than P37, 800 worth of illegally-cut logs and lumber in Purok-6, Barangay San Nicolas, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur on Friday, police official reported Saturday.
Caraga Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) Regional Director Brig. Gen. Joselito T Esquivel, Jr, also reported that two suspected timber poachers were also arrested during the anti-illegal logging operation in said area.
Before the confiscation of the said forest products PNP personnel of Talacogon Municipal Police Station (MPS) of Agusan del Sur Provincial Police Office (PPO) received information from a concern citizen that illegally cut logs and lumbers are being transported from San Luis town going to Talacogon town of that same province.
Acting on the said report, Talacogon MPS personnel immediately conducted illegal logging operations which resulted in the successful confiscation of one big Saddam Truck loaded with illegally cut 11 cubic meter 55 pieces lauan logs worth P30,800.00 and 280 board feet 70 pieces lauan sawn lumbers worth P7,000.
The driver and helper of the said Saddam truck were also arrested and currently undergoing questioning for the owner of the said illegally-cut forest products.
The arrested persons and confiscated forest products are in the custody of Talacogon MPS for filing of appropriate charges against the suspects, on violation of PD 705 otherwise known as the Forestry Code of the Philippines, Brig. Gen. Esquivel said.
“Police Caraga will continue to intensify its anti-criminality campaign to ensure that all law violators will be put behind the bars of justice,” the region’s top cop said.
“I continue to urge the members of community to give your support to the authority by providing us information regarding presence of law violators and criminals in your locality,” he added.