6 nabbed for illegal logging in Quezon

LUCENA CITY, Philippines – Police arrested six suspected illegal loggers and seized illegally cut acacia and mahogany lumber in Tiaong town in Quezon province on Saturday, police said.

Senior Supt. Robert Arguelles, Quezon police director, said anti-illegal logging operatives caught Benigno Manimtim, Crispin Mendoza, Noli Lacorte and Lolito Raujo while in the act of cutting an acacia tree in Barangay (village) Del Valle at about 4:45 p.m.

Police seized freshly sawed lumber, a chainsaw and a truck being used by the suspect in the hauling of illegal lumber.

Earlier, police also nabbed Danilo Ednaco and Roger Tapalla after they were caught cutting mahogany trees in Barangay Behia at about 3:30 p.m. Police also confiscated a chainsaw and several freshly cut mahogany lumber.

All suspects failed to show the required permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for their tree cutting activities.

Charges will be filed against the suspects for violating Republic Act 9175 (Chain Saw Act) and Presidential Decree 705, or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines as amended under the RA 7161, which prohibits the cutting of trees without a permit from the DENR. /cbb