CITY OF CALAPAN, Oriental Mindoro — Five men were arrested by police for either possession or transport of illegally cut lumber in separate operations in Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro from Friday to Sunday.
According to police reports, Manuel Layugan, 38, and Christian Maranan, 26, both farmers, were caught transporting illegally sawn lauan logs of about 254 board feet with an estimated worth of P10,000 at around 1 a.m. on Sunday on in Barangay Balansay in Mamburao town in Occidental Mindoro.
Meanwhile, Christopher Dilan, 32, and Edgardo Olores, 47, both tricycle drivers, were arrested on Saturday at about 11:20 p.m. in Sitio Proper, Barangay Alcate in Victoria town, Oriental Mindoro. Police seized from them 320 board feet of lauan with an estimated at P 11,200.
Another suspect Erwin Menorca dodged arrest and remains at large.
On Friday at around 10 a.m., farmer Nolie Ugon, 23, was arrested after being caught in the act of arranging the 144 board feet pile of sawn lumber with an estimated worth of P6,480 in Sitio Panluan, Barangay Hagan in Bongabong town in Oriental Mindoro.