CARAGA police seized a total of P152,130.40 worth of illegally cut lumbers and flitches and arrested 19 people in their intensified campaign against illegal logging operations in the different provinces in the region.
Police Brigadier General Gilberto DC Cruz, Caraga police director, said authorities recovered a total volume of 5284.53 board feet of Lauan lumbers and narra flitches in eight operations.
In Surigao del Sur, three anti-illegal logging operations were conducted, particularly in Cantilan, Lanuza, and Tandag City. The operations resulted in the arrest of 15 persons, namely, Babie Dequit, Jordan Delicona, Jonathan Suazo, Romel Juagpao, Jun-Jun Ulpina, Raymart Flores, Jomar Rivera, Eson Flores, Idoy Cabadunga, Ariel Rivera, Jonathan Plaza, Reneboy Plaza, Suri Badiang, Edito Bitoy, and Noel Bitoy.
Confiscated from them were 2,430 board feet of Lauan lumbers worth P42,000.
In Surigao del Norte, two operations conducted in Gigaquit and Bacuag resulted in the arrest of Alex Biog, Reynan Pradas, and Ricky Flordeliza and confiscation of Green Rusco Multicab, a passenger tricycle, and 2,499.2 board feet of Lauan lumbers worth P93,254.
Two operations conducted in Esperanza and Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur also resulted in the confiscation of three motorcycles, 186FA Air-Cooled diesel engine, sawmill blade, fan belt, flywheel (bolante), and 145.33 board feet of narra flitches worth P11,626.40.
In Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, Romeo Benuhat Jr. was arrested and 210 board feet of sawn lumbers with market value of P5,250 were confiscated.
Cruz urged the community to strongly support the law enforcement operations that are geared toward the protection and preservation of the region's natural resources.