Hot lumber, banca worth P916k seized in Northern Samar waters

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TACLOBAN CITY––Policemen in Northern Samar confiscated illegally sawn lumber and a motorized banca with a combined commercial value of over P916,000 during a seaborne operation early Friday.

The Northern Samar Police Provincial Office in Catarman town reported that San Isidro police office personnel were patrolling the waters of Barangay Palanit around 2:30 a.m. when they noticed an unmarked motorized sea craft loaded with 131 undocumented pieces of Lawaan lumber.

This prompted the police to scour the area to locate the owners of the lumber but could not find them, said Col. Arnel Apud, provincial police director.

Members of the 803rd Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion joined the seaborne operation.

The seized items are under the temporary custody of the San Isidro police for administrative seizure proceedings by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Apud said.

He said charges for violating the Forestry Reform Code were being readied against the owners of the assorted forest products.

“We will strictly monitor illegal deliveries of undocumented lumber as part of our commitment to protect the environment,” Apud said.

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