Apprehended 3 cargoes; are they "hot" lumber?

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — Authorities, in three operations, had apprehended a truckload of lumber in this city and two more cargoes of lumber in neighboring Albuera town, but up to now it could not be determined yet if all of the seized items were illegally cut or from unauthorized sources.

Last March 31, the Ormoc City policemen flagged down at a checkpoint in Barangay Bantigue a truckload of lumber, with a volume of 2,655 board feet and a commercial value of P160,000.

This cargo of lumber is now being held at the Ormoc City Police Office, which as of yesterday was still verifying the documents presented by truck driver Ronnie Cagoyong.

The documents showed that the cargo was “salvaged timber” from Yolanda-felled lawaan trees, and had a corresponding transport permit.

An informant, however, earlier told the police that the lumber were cut from standing trees in the mountains of Barangay San Pedro in Albuera, Leyte and not felled by Yolanda.

Superintendent Ibrahim Jambiran said the police would release the impounded lumber if proven that Cagoyong’s papers were in order.

Eugene Mozo, community environment and natural resource officer based in Albuera, said the lumber were legitimate, as these came from Yolanda-felled trees and passed inspection by his office.

Some of the lumber were however “freshly cut,” and did not have the DENR’s “hatchet marks.” Mozo explained though that marking lumber was no longer practiced by the government agency. “Ever since I came here, that was not practiced anymore,” he said, adding he did not even know where the marking hatchets are.

Two other apprehended cargoes of lumber are now in custody of the Albuera Police, following two anti-illegal logging operations.

On March 29, at 11:30 p.m., the Philippine Army’s Alpha Company led by 2nd Lieutenant Jonathan Magaso, apprehended a jeepney (plate number PTG-274), loaded with 594 board feet of lumber, worth P36,000.

A certain Walter Taripe, 43, of Brgy. Salvacion in Albuera, reportedly owned the lumber. He was escorting the cargo when caught together with the driver Samuel Lumapas, 72, of Brgy. Balugo in Albuera, and four other residents of Salvacion. Mozo said CENRO had no records about Taripe applying for a permit to salvage lumber.

On March 20, the Albuera Police apprehended another truck loaded with 1,406 board feet of antipolo lumber, with an estimated commercial value of P 64,000. The truck was owned by Eugenio “Aki” Cruz, a licensed lumber dealer in the town, who claimed the lumber was “stolen” by his helpers.

Senior Inspector Martin Pardeñas, Albuera Police chief, said Cruz called him over the phone to say that the lumber was cut by his own people without his permission, intending to sell it on the side.

However, it has been ten days since, and the police are still waiting for Cruz to personally come to the office, to file a complaint against his driver Simeon Dapulag and helper Jonathan Casia for “stealing” the lumber.

Mozo said antipolo is a planted species, but Cruz must first prove his claims before CENRO could act on the seized lumber. As of press time, however, the police has not yet turned over the lumber to CENRO, Mozo added. (FREEMAN)