SIX people were arrested in an anti-illegal logging campaign in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, the police reported Wednesday, January 6.
Police Captain Edwin Duco, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said two of the six suspects, namely, Rex Zamoras, 44, and Jinnie Ferolin, 44, were arrested around 4 p.m. Tuesday in Manawan village, Jose Dalman, Zamboanga del Norte.
Duco said the two were caught cutting mahogany trees without the required permits.
Seized from them were some 1,648.51 board feet of lumber with an estimated worth of P72,534.53.
He said the other suspects were Jesus Bustamante, 58, a truck driver, and his three truck men, Sanny Bularon, 32, Jimuel Sumaoy, 20, and Roel Catili, 39. They were arrested around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Molos village, Tampilisan, Zamboanga Del Norte.
Duco said the four were caught transporting 18 sacks of wood charcoal and Acacia Mangium Lumber with a total of 412 board feet with an estimated cost of P20,615 without the necessary permit.
He said appropriate charges are set to be filed against the arrested suspects. (SunStar Zamboanga)