CAMP BADO DANGWA -- Cordillera police beefed up its anti–illegal logging drive in various parts of the region following the arrest of three loggers in Benguet leading to the confiscation of several lumbers.
Police Regional Office–Cordillera (PRO-Cor) regional director Chief Superintendent Elmo Francis Sarona stressed the whole force of the police down to lower units are set to help in the environment preservation and forest protection to prevent any catastrophic incident that may occur in the future especially in this rainy season.
As a result of its anti-illegal logging operations, joint personnel of Buguias Municipal Police Stations (MPS) and Benguet Provincial Public Safety Command (PPSC) arrested three transporter identified as Stephen Liked, 21, driver; and his two passengers named as Charles Liked, 20, and Brix Dungalen, 21; all farmers, and residents of Barangay Balintaugan, Bauko, Mt. Province after they failed to present pertinent documents to support the transportation of lumber.
The suspects were aboard a white Hyundai van and was intercepted at Bayoyo, Buyacaoan, Buguias, Benguet in the evening of February 3. A total of 104 pieces of lumber with a total volume of 841.63 board feet were confiscated.
In another operation, members of PPSC and Atok police confiscated 192 pieces of abandoned pine lumber with a total volume of 1,341 board feet at Bobong, Japa, Topdac, Atok, Benguet in the morning of the same day.
Likewise, Bokod police hauled 71 pieces of lumber with a total volume of 441.6 board feet at the mountainous area of Barangay Ekip, Bokod, Benguet the following day evening.
Reiterating his commitment, Sarona warned individuals, especially members of law enforcement agencies to refrain from receiving money from illegal loggers and urged all officials from all agencies of the government, the local government units and the citizenry to help in the fight against illegal logging in an effort to avert the further destruction of the environment. (PROCOR – RPIO)