BESAO, Mountain Province – Besao Municipal Police Station personnel led by Police Inspector Clayton Estangki, DENR personnel from CENRO-Sabangan led by CENRO Christopher Bosaing and Seize Officer Paul Lobchoy conducted anti-illegal operations in two separate sites in Besao recently.
They went to Barangay Gueday, Besao, Mountain Province and scoured its mountains leading to the discovery of 133 illegally sawn pine lumber in different dimensions with a total volume of 930 board feet valued at about P26,000 in the market.
While the group was on its way to Sitio Ganggangsaan, Barangay Kin-iway from Barangay Gueday, they chanced upon 133 pieces of sawn pine lumber of different dimensions with a total volume of 733 board feet with an estimated market value of P20,533
All items were seized and brought to CENRO-Sabangan Office for safe keeping.
Police Inspector Faith Igualdo, P.I.O of Mountain Province Police Provincial Office confirmed in a text message that there were no illegal loggers arrested during the operations.
Mountain Province PNP Provincial Director Police Senior Supt. Cornelio Comila stated that it was through a concerned citizen’s information that led to the seizure of the illegal lumber.
It will be recalled that an anti-illegal operation was conducted second week of May 2016 in Balintaugan, Bauko, Mountain Province that resulted to the confiscation of assorted lumber materials with an estimated value of P507,445 and the arrest of five alleged illegal loggers.
The Police Regional Office Cordillera is intensifying its campaign against illegal logging in the region.
By Ferdie Cariño Castañeda
