Quezon province map. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The National Bureau of Investigation seized P400,000 worth of illegal forest products loaded on a 12-wheeler truck and arrested four persons involved in Pagbilao, Quezon Province, on April 18.
The police report identified the suspects as Mavie Jusayan Catarus-Escober, Juanito Lara Jr., Julius Abtado Merencillo and Oeth Doinog.
According to the NBI Lucena District Office, the 12-wheeler truck was intercepted along Maharlika highway, Barangay Malicboy, Pagbilao, on Sunday night.
Agents found 7,000 board feet of flitches of “lauan” with an estimated value of P423,000 on the truck.
The suspects could not present permits for the transport of the logs, which came from Calbayog City in Samar and bound for Malvar in Batangas.
The suspects face criminal charges in violation of the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines and Section 77 of Presidential Decree No. 705 before the Provincial Prosecutors Office in Lucena City. —Abby Boiser
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