Van driver arrested for transport of illegal logs from Lanao del Sur

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Police are preparing charges against a suspect caught transporting illegally-cut logs in Bukidnon.

Caught driving a van with at least 8,000 board feet of lauan logs was Albert Arendain, 32, of Kitaokitao town, Bukidnon.

Capt. Patrick Jess Paguirigan, Talakag municipal police chief, said Arendain was the van driver.

Police got a chance to make the arrest after the vehicle carrying the logs broke down. The logs were seized.

Paguiringan said Arendain is now being detained by police pending the filing of charges for violating the Forestry Reform Code.

Arendani, according to Paguiringan, had told investigators he was just hired to transport the logs from Lanao del Sur province.

Maj. Silvestre Asiong Jr., Bukidnon provincial police spokesperson, said estimates made by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources placed the logs’ value at more than P400,000.

Edited by TSB