SEVEN illegal loggers in Apayao province were arrested over the weekend as operatives from the Police Regional Office in Cordillera (PRO-Cor) intensified the implementation of Presidential Decree (PD) 705.

More than P130,000 worth of lumber were seized during the operation in Apayao and other parts of the Cordillera.

Those arrested were: Lorenzo Tenorio Espiritu, 48; Roger Guerrero Cotillon, 38; Rey Orus Mina, 26; June-June Orus Mina, 19; Robert Curitug Atabay, of legal age; Michael Maluom Atabay, 28; and Ryan Pedronan Paligat, 20, all residents of Pamplona, Cagayan who were caught in the act of sawing and resizing sawn mahogany lumber in Carallan, Brgy. Luyon, Luna on March 7.

Authorities confiscated 1,126.63 board feet of lumber worth P22,532.6 and two unregistered chainsaws.

The offenders are now facing charges for violation of PD 705 known as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines and RA 9175 known as the Chainsaw Act of 2002 filed by the police in court.

The anti-illegal logging drive of Ifugao and Benguet Police Provincial Office, Philippine Army and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources resulted in the confiscation of assorted lumber over the weekend with a total volume of 4,069.66 board feet valued at P133,265.48.

Some 130 board feet of logs worth P4,550 were hauled in Barangay Binablayan, Tinoc, Ifugao, while 81 pieces or 600 board feet of assorted mahogany lumber worth P25,200 were confiscated in Lower Awayan, Aguinaldo, Ifugao on March 2.

In Kiangan, Ifugao, 700 board feet of Gmelina worth P24,500 was confiscated while 91.66 board feet worth P2,566.48 was also seized in Yabyaban, Dalipey, Bakun, Benguet on March 5.

In Aguinaldo, Ifugao, 142 abandoned flitches of Gmelina with a volume of 2,548 board feet worth P76,449.00 were confiscated on the night of March 6.