AUTHORITIES intercepted a vehicle loaded with illegally cut lauan and gmelina lumber worth P400,000 in Sitio Pahiron, Barangay Lumbia in Cagayan de Oro City over the weekend.
Police identified the suspects as Arnel Nacalaban, 39, and Cristito Nacalaban, 40, residents of Barangay Tignapoloan.
Acting on a tip from an informant, policemen and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personnel flagged down the vehicle at a checkpoint and found the lumber without permit.
Recovered from the suspects were one Kia Bongo loaded with undocumented 25 pieces of lauan (595.47 board feet) and seven pieces of gmelina (155.64 board feet) with total estimated value of P391, 953.20.
Police Captain Teodoro de Oro, Police Station 8 commander, said the suspects tried to evade arrest by telling operatives that the trees were cut due to the ongoing road clearing operation.
"They took advantage of the clearing operation maoy ilang gi-rason bisan dili gud tinuod," he said.
De Oro said that even if the suspects' claim were true, they still need a permit from the DENR before cutting the trees. No such document was presented.
The suspects are now under police custody while appropriate charges are being prepared to be filed in court.
The seized items were turned over to DENR.