In a letter to Philippine National Police chief Director Gen. Arturo Lomibao, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Michael Defensor said Senior Inspector Frank Tagupa, police chief of Gattaran town, must be investigated in connection with the disappearance of the narra lumber worth P182,000 and for allegedly refusing to turn over the seized contraband to the local forestry officers after it was impounded at the Gattaran police station for safekeeping.
The undocumented narra lumber and the unregistered six-wheeler truck used to transport it were seized and impounded last March 19 in Gattaran town after the vehicle broke down along the highway while it was on its way to the provincial police command in Tuguegarao City, 65 kilometers northwest of the municipality.
Defensor said Tagupa allegedly ordered the release of the narra lumber and the truck last March 29 without a clearance from the DENR’s Region 2 office.
"The contraband could have been used as evidence against an illegal logger operating in Gattaran town, which is considered as entry (point) to the Northern Sierra Madre (mountain) range and the 4,136-hectare Peñablanca protected landscape and seascape," he said.
Citing reports, Defensor said Tagupa allegedly refused to sign the seizure receipts prepared by the DENR officers on March 22 for the temporary custody of the confiscated narra lumber and the truck even if the apprehension occurred within his jurisdiction.
In a report to Defensor, Florencio Soliven Jr., Aparri community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO), said Tagupa allegedly delayed the signing of the custodial documents despite the daily visits of local DENR officers to his office.
When they returned to Tagupa’s office on March 30, Soliven said they were surprised to find the narra lumber and the truck gone, having been released the previous night.