CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The alleged illegal transport of charcoal was foiled by Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija police on Wednesday, June 28.
Brigadier General Jose Hidalgo, director of Police Regional Office III, said the truck loaded with sacks of charcoal was flagged down by local police while conducting a checkpoint operation.
Upon inspection, 362 undocumented sacks of charcoal with estimated market value P126,700 were discovered.
Police immediately arrested the five individuals who were inside the truck, including the driver.
They were identified as Crispin Pajarillaga, Sherwin Samson, Bobby Rence Melgar, Darwin Bacani, and a certain alias John Rey”.
Police are also in pursuit of the owner of the illegal cargo identified as Mark Joseph Abes, a native of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.
Appropriate charges for violation of PD 705 (Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines) are being prepared against the suspects for court referral.
Hidalgo warned the public of the continuous crackdown on illegal activities in the region.
“This serves as a stern warning to the public against wanton cutting down of trees, transporting of firewood, possession and selling of charcoal without the requisite permits,” Hidalgo said.