Sunday, May 18, 2008 Narra products seized By Ernie Olson Jr.
A TRUCKLOAD of narra products was intercepted by the police during a checkpoint operation conducted in Bangued, Abra last Saturday.
This resulted, after it was found to be transporting more than the number of items authorized in a permit to transport issued to its owner by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Cordillera Police Regional Director Eugene Martin said arrested for unauthorized transport of the narra products were Zaldy Pascual, Edwin Nagura Leppago, Joaquin Castaneda Nagura, Jose Colomna Cortez, and Acneil Clavero Cagaoan.
Police said they had flagged down a green Isuzu Elf truck bearing license plate XLR-330 being driven by Leppago, which was found loaded with freshly-cut narra products.
After Pascual acknowledged ownership of the said products, he presented a permit to transport the products issued by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) of Lagangilang, Abra that authorized him to transport 150 pieces of knock-down semi-finished and finished narra products.
"Nonetheless, the persons were apprehended and the vehicle, with all its cargo, were brought to the Abra Provincial Police Office (PPO) for verification and inventory," Martin explained.
He said the results of an inventory conducted by personnel of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro), as witnessed by DENR Task Force chairman Elmer Dayao with two local media practitioners, disclosed that the total number of pieces of narra products in different sizes was 170 and not only the allowed 150.
"This was inconsistent with the permit issued by the Cenro," Martin pointed out.
After the truckload of narra products with a total volume of 4.09 cubic meter and an estimated market value of P121,391.20 was confiscated, all arrested persons were presented to the Provincial Prosecutor's Office for inquest. A charge for alleged violation of Section 68 of Presidential Decree 705 was filed against them.
Martin said the suspects and the confiscated items remained under the custody of the Abra PPO.
"The establishment of checkpoints has yielded arrests for different violations, the confiscation of smuggled goods and the interception of illegally-imported goods. These checkpoints are conducted as a safety measure for those coming in and going out of our area of responsibility," Martin added.
