CEBU, Philippines - Different kinds of lumber with a total estimated value of P111,714 were seized in Barangay Patao, Bantayan at around 10 p.m. last Sunday.
The two pieces of 23 feet long keel (kasko) worth P13,000; four 840 board feet of “lawaan” worth P43,680; 62 pieces of 992 board feet of hot lumber (lawaan) worth P51,584 and 23 pieces of bamboo poles worth P3,450 were reportedly transported to Cebu illegally.
The informant said they were shipped from Masbate or Leyte through a pump boat that reportedly arrived in Bantayan around 7:00 p.m.
Senior Insp. Jaime Santillan said the suspects were no longer in the area when he and his men arrived but the items were left there. What they saw first were bamboo poles floating by the sea and they found out later that the rest were hidden underneath the floating bamboos.
“Murag ang mga suspek nakahibaw nga naay mga pulis mangadto maong dali sila nakahawa kay napa may mga upos sa sigarilyo nga among nakit-an ug ang ubang mga kahoy basa-basa pa sab,” Santillan said
Police said they have identified a possible suspect but further investigation has to be undertaken.
The responding team was composed of personnel from the Bantayan Police and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 7.
Vincent Espinoza of DENR gave the estimated market value of the lumber. The items are now under the custody of the Bantayan Police. (FREEMAN)