PNP denies coddling cop tagged in illegal logging

By Armand Tamaray

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The Philippine National Police here denied it is coddling one of its men linked in last week’s illegal shipment of narra lumber, wherein his eight alleged cohorts, are now detained by authorities for illegal logging charges.

Provincial police director Senior Supt. Jude Santos said PO3 Richard Aguijo has been under their custody since his name was linked to the illegal transport of the more than P100,000 worth of forest products, stressing that they are neither hiding nor coddling him.

“In fact, the suspect cop is also facing investigation from our office to determine if he is involved or not in the illegal activity,” he said.

Aguijo, assigned with the 203rd Police Provincial Mobile Group here, was allegedly escorting the truck carrying the illegally-cut lumber using a motorcycle when they were accosted by operatives and village officials in Solana town.

But Santos said Aguijo, who was included in the illegal logging complaint filed by environment personnel here, along with eight others, had executed an affidavit belying his involvement in the case.

Based on initial accounts, Santos said that Aguijo only rushed to the area where the truck was flagged down after learning that one of those involved in the narra shipment was the suspect’s own brother.

Earlier, an Environment officer claimed Aguijo escaped while the lumber owners and truck employees were being interrogated at a checkpoint set up by environment operatives and local officials led by Tuao town mayor William Mamba.

“He (Aguijo) was able to escape (during the operation). He also suddenly disappeared during the preliminary investigation, that’s why we were not able to submit him for inquest,” said forester Andres Guiquing of the community environment and natural resources office based in Solana.

Besides the policeman, the eight others facing charges for alleged violation of PD 705 or the Anti-Illegal Logging Law were identified as Conchita Domingo, Nenita Leonilo, both of Baggao town, and councilman Benjamin Esloban of Aparri town, the contraband’s alleged owners; and Cristobal Galuno, the alleged truck driver; and his helpers, Villamor dela Cruz, Cris Aguijo and Ferdinand Tagao, all now under the custody of the authorities.

Environment officials failed to formally submit the suspect cop for inquest proceedings earlier this week for his alleged refusal to submit himself during the preliminary investigation conducted by the local environment office.