Hot lumber worth P4M seized in 3 Albay hardware shops

Thousands of pieces of illegally cut lumber were seized by authorities in three hardware stores in Albay. The hot lumbers were believed to be around P4 million. Contributed photo

TABACO CITY – A composite team of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personnel confiscated thousands of pieces of undocumented and illegally cut lumber from various hardware stores here valued at around P4 million, Police said on Friday.

Authorities raided the three establishments located in Barangays (village) San Ramon, Bonbon, and Pawa on Thursday morning and found piles of cut lumbers of mostly red and white lawaan species.

Lawyer Eric Czar Nuqui, team leader of NBI’s central office, said the establishments were put under surveillance for several months.

Thousands of pieces of illegally cut lumber were seized by authorities in three hardware stores in Albay. The hot lumbers were believed to be around P4 million. Contributed photo

Six persons – owners of the raided establishments – were invited for questioning by the NBI while charges for violation of Presidential Decree 705 (Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines) were being prepared against them. /kga