Cops seize boards of hot lumber in Quezon

LUCENA CITY – Police seized illegally cut forest products left abandoned in different parts of Quezon province, police said Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento, Quezon police provincial director, said policemen on Monday seized 2.74 cubic meters (1,163 board feet) of sawn lumber worth P58,000 in Barangay (village) Caridad Ibaba in Atimonan town. The lumbers were illegally cut hardwood species of

maulawin, arangan and dangkalan.

He said the local police acted on information on illegal logging activities in the area.

In the island town of Alabat, police on Monday also recovered 17 flitches of “gemelina” measuring 0.28 cubic meter (120 board feet) worth P4,200 and one chain saw in Barangay Pambilan Norte.

Investigators said the suspect behind the unlawful tree cutting, Virgelio Novilla, escaped before the authorities arrived.

On Saturday, policemen in Real town also seized 77 pieces of sawn lumber from red lauan specie with an estimated volume of 3.23 cubic meter (369.50 board feet) worth P11,000.

The forest products were illegally cut from the Sierra Madre mountain ranges.

Also on Saturday, policemen in Pagbilao town recovered 21 pieces of narra lumber measuring 0.28 cubic meters (122 board feet) worth P12,200.

Armamento said illegal logging and other forms of criminal activities on the environment were part of their current focus in pursuit of the police “one time big time” operation plans. CDG