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TACLOBAN CITY––Police seized more than P282,000 worth of forest products in Northern Samar in two separate police operations on Friday, March 4.
In one of the operations, two minors, aged 15 and 13, were caught in the act of transporting the illegally cut logs, said the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office (NSPPO).
The NSPPO report shows that police recovered about P253,000 forest products consisting of 21 pieces of boat keels and 38 illegally sewn Lauan with a total volume of 784 board feet at the shore in Barangay Alegria, San Isidro town around 3:30 a.m.
The police said these products were abandoned.
In another illegal logging operation, police caught two minors at 5:20 a.m. in Barangay Salvacion, Bobon town.
The NSPPO said police caught the minors, aged 15 and 13, trying to transport the illegally cut lumber along Sag-od River in the town.
Confiscated from the two were 57/33 board feet of Lauan and Toog worth P29,286.50.
The minors were turned over to the social welfare and development office of Bobon.
The police said the minors transported the forest products through the river to avoid being caught by authorities.
All the confiscated forest products are now in possession of the police for documentation and disposition.