BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya -- A 30-year old gardener was arrested while two of his companions escaped the operatives from (Provincial Environmental and Natural Resources Office) PENRO and local police during a raid in Purok 5, barangay Buenavista, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya on Sunday afternoon, June 19.
The raiding team caught the suspects in the act of cutting trees, but was able to arrest only one suspect identified as Glenn Mark Gammad Saludez, 30, a resident of Purok 5, Barangay Buenavista, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
The two others who escaped were identified as Richard Perez and Ryan Fernandez.
The PENRO Bayombong got information that trees were being cut in the said area at around 1:45 p.m., prompting it to immediately coordinate with the Philippine National Police.
"Nagtakbuhan ang dalawa na kasama nang biglang makatunog na may paparating ng pulis" a resident told.
Confiscated from the area were six flitches of sawn Mahogany lumber with approximately eighty-two (82) board feet.
The suspect is under the custody of the PNP and will be facing charges in violation of RA 9175, otherwise known as the Chainsaw Act of 2002, an act which regulates the ownership, possession, sale, importation and use of chain saws, penalizing violations thereof, and PD 705 (Revised Forestry Code).
“Umaasa naman kami na agad din naming mahuhuli ang dalawang nakatakas para panagutin sa iligal na gawain," an investigator said.