Coco lumber thieves arrested

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Six people engaged in illegal logging were arrested and authorities seized at least 6,500 board feet of coco lumber during an anti-illegal logging operations along Maharlika Highway in Barangay San Juan, Alaminos, Laguna.

Senior Superintendent Manolito Labador, Laguna provincial director, said charges of illegal logging (R.A 8048) have been filed against the arrested suspects – Hilario Mendoza, Jeffrey Regala, Dion Barola, Joseph Monsaluod, Abel Abarquez and Ronald Magtibay.

Labador said the suspects on board two Isuzu elf van and Isuzu stake truck (XAM-620) loaded with various sizes of coco lumber had just come from Quezon province when they were intercepted along Maharlika Highway at around 12 p.m., in Alaminos, Laguna yesterday.

The suspects failed to present permits when they were accosted by elements of the 406th Provincial Police Mobile Group. – Ed Amoroso