By Freddie Velez
DONA REMEDIOS TRINIDAD (DRT), Bulacan--Seventeen illegal loggers were arrested in a joint anti-illegal logging operation conducted by environment officers and the police in Sitio Tatulo (Sumacbao River), Barangay Kalawakan this town Thursday afternoon, a belated report said Saturday, April 25.
Based on the report submitted to Colonel Lawrence B. Cajipe, acting Bulacan police director, the 17 arrested suspects were identified as Mauro Santiago Mendez, 53; Marvin De Guzman Mendez, 29; Marjun De Gusman Mendez, 20; Gaundencio Samson Mendez, 19; Marvin Pakuribot Barlis, 37; Celestino Pakuribot Barlis, 35; Sotero Bote Madrid, 22, Jordan Bote Madrid, 19; Rannie Esparez Bartolay, 19; Junjun Esparez Bartolay, 22; Alberto Mocuay Sagubat, 54; Bernie Lorlto Ferater, 22; Marlon Castro dela Cruz, 27; Joel Esporma Bulacan, 45; Danilo dela Cruz Pascual, 47; and a 15 and 17-year-old minors. The suspects were all from Barangay Pias, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.
Investigation disclosed that the suspects were caught in act of cutting logs in the mountainous part of Sierra Madre, which was the territorial boundary of DRT and Gen. Tinio Nueva Ecija, that resulted in their arrest.
Recovered from the suspects were a chainsaw; more or less 200 pieces of illegally cut yakal logs with an estimated scale of 10, 000 bd ft, and having market value amounting to P 533, 000; two improvised cal. 22 riffle; an improvised shotgun, and two pieces of 12 gauge ammunition.
The arrested suspects were brought to the DRT municipal police station custodial facility. Criminal complaints for Violation of PD 705, Violation of RA 9175 (chainsaw act), Violation RA 10591, Violation of Art 151 of RPC, Violation of RA 11332, and Violation of RA 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act) against the arrested suspects are now being prepared for filing in court.