P1.5 million of ‘hot logs’ confiscated

A composite team of operatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), military and police has confiscated about P1.5 million of ‘hot logs’ in three separate raids in Region III.

Reports reaching the DENR Central Office revealed that the anti-illegal logging operations were conducted over the weekend in Nueva Vizcaya, Cabanatuan City, San Antonio, and Gabaldon in Nueva Ecija.

Some 4,253 pieces of assorted Narra knock-down furniture components and 17 sacks of wood tiles worth P500,000 were seized in a residential compound in Sitio Dianaw, Gen. Luna, Carranglan, Nueva Vizcaya.

Initial investigations showed that the forest products were abandoned by transporters of haulers in the compound of a certain Antonio Bantawan upon learning of the DENR personnel stationed in a checkpoint in Payabo, San Jose City. Bantawan, however, denied involvement on the recovered contraband, claiming he was out of town during the incident.

On Aug. 11, the operatives confiscated in Cabanatuan City some 20,000 board feet of lumber amounting to P500,000. The forest products were loaded in two 10-wheeler and one Isuzu trucks.

The raiding team apprehended two more 10-wheeler trucks loaded with 15,000 board feet of sawn lumber in Gabaldon. This shipment, which was said to have originated from Aurora province, was misdeclared and covered by spurious transport documents.

Region III Regional Executive Director Leonardo Sibbaluca said that the vehicle owner Eduardo Gatdula, helpers Lorenzo Barils, Eddie Fabros, Rex Jemina, Reynaldo Ucol and Pablito Francia, and Zenaida Vicencio and son Manolo Vicencio were charged in court for violation of anti-illegal logging laws.