Arrests made as Isabela, Cagayan cops seize ‘hot’ lumber

HOT ITEMS. Pieces of suspected illegal lumber seized in Tumauini, Isabela. VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.

TUMAUINI, Isabela–Police here recently seized at least 3,800 board feet of lumber believed to be from illegally-cut trees.

Col. Mariano Rodriguez, Isabela police director, said on Monday (Jan. 6) that lawmen intercepted a truck loaded with more than 180 pieces of undocumented lumber at the village of Arcon past 9 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 4) yet.

Truck driver Macario Baccay, 43, and helpers Domingo Aggabao, 63; Florante Gumiran, 53; Jay-ar Baccay, 24, were arrested.

The pieces of lumber were worth P159,000, Rodriguez said.

The truck and its wood cargo were brought to the Tumauini police. The lumber would be turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for safekeeping.

In Buguey, Cagayan, authorities also apprehended a van loaded with 300 board feet of gmelina timber.

Col. Chevalier Iringan, Cagayan Valley police regional spokesperson, said van driver Michael Buenaflor and his two companions, identified as Romeo Cusit and Cesar Villasin, were arrested.

The van and lumber were turned over to the Aparri Community Environment and Natural Resources Office for safekeeping.