Assorted lumber seized; three men arrested

CEBU, Philippines -  About P500,000 worth of assorted lumber were seized and three persons were arrested after they were caught by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 in the act of unloading lumber early yesterday morning in Sitio Labrador, Barangay Tangke, Talisay City.

Some of those unloading lumber eluded arrest and only Nonelito Abay, 40; his younger brother, Michael, 28, both of the same barangay, and Alfredo Rolido, 68, of Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, were arrested.

Most of the lumber confiscated from them were Lawaan tree and other hard woods.

The operation led by Supt. Nelvin Ricohermoso, stemmed from tip given by a concerned citizen informing them of the arrival of a pump boat from Surigao City around 5:00p.m., Thursday.

Operatives then immediately coordinated with the Talisay City police and the Provincial Environment and Natural Office (PENRO). They then proceeded to the area to check the veracity of the report.

There they saw a group of men unloading assorted lumber from a pump boat named JEARFON.

They approached the group and introduced themselves as policemen which prompted other suspects to scamper towards different directions.

The arrested men also failed to show proper documents for the transport of the assorted lumber.

Rolido, who claimed to be an asset of PENRO and said he was there to conduct surveillance, was however denied by PENRO personnel.

The Abay brothers said they were just hired by someone to unload the lumber before it will be taken by a truck to Cebu City.

The suspects are now detained at the CIDG-7 stockade while the assorted lumber was turned over to the PENRO office for safekeeping.

Charges for violation of Section 69 of P.D. 705 or The Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines will be filed in court against the suspects. (FREEMAN)