Truckload of hot lumber seized in Isabela

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Authorities in Isabela’s Naguilian town confiscated at least 4,000 board feet of illegally cut lumber on Sunday.

Isabela police’s public safety management company intercepted the contraband, which were concealed under sacks of rice husks aboard a truck driven by a certain Marvin Cortez along the national highway in Barangay Surcot, in response to tips sent through text messages by civilians.

“Were it not for the info-text campaign that we launched, we would not have been able to intercept said shipment. What we only wonder is how the truck was able to pass through two checkpoints in San Mariano and Benito Soliven before being caught,” said Isabela police director Senior Superintendent Jimmy Rivera.

Rivera, head of the Isabela anti-illegal logging task force formed by Gov. Faustino Dy III, said personnel manning the checkpoints could face administrative sanction for neglect of duty.

Police are still investigating the source and destination of the said hot lumber, while charges are being readied against the truck driver.

Isabela yielded the most number of confiscated illegal logs since President Aquino launched a total ban on illegal logging.

 A recent report by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the volume of illegal logs seized in Isabela was recorded at 64,214.8 bd. ft.; followed by Quirino, 32,236.72 bd. ft.; Nueva Vizcaya, 19,961.92 bd. ft.; and Cagayan, 14,568.64 bd. ft.