CAMP MARCELO A ADDURU, Tuguegarao City – Two individuals who were trying to smuggle out undocumented lumbers were apprehended by joint operatives of Santa Fe Police Station and Nueva Vizcaya Police Provincial Office in separate dragnet operations on Monday, Sept. 12.
First to be arrested was Angerick Epic, 27, and a resident of Cabugao, Apayao after the pursuing authorities caught him in possession of 983.39 board feet of undocumented ‘Narra’ worth P491,695 in Barangay Caloocan, San Nicolas, Pangasinan.
In the ensuing hot pursuit operation, Epic’s cohort whose name was not available at press time, was also arrested inBarangay Villaflores, Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya.
The van he was driving was loaded with 806 board feet of sawn lumbers worth P403,000.
Report from Sta. Fe Philippine National Police revealed that the transport of undocumented lumbers was reported by the Cagayan Valley Product Monitoring (CAVAPROM) which prompted the police unit to take immediate action.
Investigation disclosed that the smuggled lumbers came from the province of Kalinga and were to be dropped to a certain furniture shop in the area.
The Valley Cops had a successful operation through proper coordination with PNP personnel of San Nicolas Police Station, Pangasinan Police Provincial Office.
Epic will be facing charges for violation of Presidential Decree 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines while the confiscated contrabands were properly turned over to authorities from DENR Region 2.
Police Brigadier General Steve B Ludan, PRO2 Regional Director, directed all police personnel of PRO2 to continue in manifesting outstanding performance of official duties most especially in sternly upholding the law without fear and favor.