Reyes suspects 'inside job' in illegal release of lumber

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes suspects possible connivance from his own men in the mysterious release of the P5 million worth of logs from Pier 5 recently.

Reyes, who arrived at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Cebu City yesterday to personally check on the mysterious disappearance of the lumber, said DENR personnel will not be spared from the investigation.

"There is a conspiracy of course, one cannot do this alone, this needs at least 10 ten-wheeler trucks to transport," Reyes said.

The 155 crates of bagraas and lauan lumber were reportedly confiscated in Mindanao but were won through a bidding by Golden C Agrowood and Lumber Dealer in Butuan City.

These were shipped from Butuan on February 23 through M/V Princess of the Earth and arrived at Pier 5 the next day February 24.

Through concerted efforts of DENR personnel lead by regional executive director Leonardo Sibbaluca Jr., and personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Police and the Bureau of Custom, they were able to intercept the shipment.

A few hours after the interception, a certain shipper named Nido Ting came in and presented six documents, three for the bidded lauan and three for the bagraas lumbers.

The re-scaling of the lumber was then ordered as well as the grouping per classification of the lumbers as these were mixed inside the crates.

Sunday February 25, after the two lumbers were grouped, it was found out that the total volume computed reached 201,874.89 board feet, 19,000 board feet more than the figure at the manifest which was only 182,457.66 board feet.

"Already there was overshipment as the allowable excess provided under an administrative order was only two percent more," Reyes said. - Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP