TWO persons were arrested in a law enforcement operation for illegal logging in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Monday, January 18.

Police Captain Edwin Duco, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the arrested suspects as Samson Balendres Baluarte, 39, and Bonifacio Largo Quindang Jr., 24, both farmers and residents of Purok 3 in Bacayawan village, Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur.

Duco said the two were arrested around 5:20 p.m. Sunday, January 17, in a law enforcement operation against illegal logging in Poblacion village, Dimataling.

They were arrested for violation of Municipal Ordinance 19, series 2017, "an ordinance penalizing unauthorized cutting of trees within the municipality of Dimataling, Zamboanga Del Sur" and Municipal Ordinance 20, series 2017, "an ordinance regulating the ownership, possession, and used of chainsaws and penalizing violations thereof."

Duco said the arrested violators were brought to Dimataling Municipal Police Station and turned over to the Municipal Agriculture Officer of Dimataling for proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)