FIVE suspected illegal loggers were arrested by authorities in the forested areas of Camachin in Doña Remedios Trinidad town recently.

Combined operatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) based in Baliwag, Bulacan, the National Power Corporation-Angat Watershed Team and the Philippine National Police of Doña Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan arrested the five suspected illegal loggers during an anti-logging operation.

The area is part of the Angat Watershed Reservation under Proclamation No. 505.

The operation also resulted in the seizure of more than 1,600 board feet of chainsawed dipterocarp lumber worth over P170,000, including three chainsaws and five motorcycles.

The forest contrabands are now under the custody of Centro-Baliwag.

The DENR has already filed criminal charges against the suspects for violating the Forestry Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree 705) and the Republic Act No. 9175 or the Chainsaw Act of 2002.