7 men nabbed for illegal logging in Benguet town

ITOGON, Benguet -- Seven individuals were arrested last here week for illegal logging and transporting the sawn logs for buyers in Baguio City.

Joint operation of Benguet police Supt. Mario L. Mayames Jr., Lambert Suerte and La Trinidad town police Insp. Vicente L. Tamid conducted operations Feb. 5 which led to the arrests.

Nabbed at Barangay Apalan here was Butch A. Buaquen, 42, of Ambilao, Bokod town, owner of the confiscated pine lumber.

Also arrested in the area were Bokod town residents Lucas B. Belino Jr., Juanito D. Pulsingay, 46, driver of Elf truck and July L. Pa-ay, 39, owner of the truck.

Others were Michael A. Simon, Mike A. Sison, 36, and a resident of Buhaw, Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet who was driving an Armak jeep and Rogel S. Dela Cruz, 24 driver of another Elf truck.

A police report said the first three arrested persons were on board an Elf truck bearing plate number CSN-364 owned by Pa-ay and registered in the name of GlendrexBosucan, resident of Magsaysay, Loakan, Baguio City.

|The truck was loaded with 160 pieces of illegally sawn pine lumber with a total volume of 933 board feet.

Said pine lumber was to be delivered at Brookside, Baguio City.

The second Elf Truck with plate number XHP-547 driven by Dela Cruz was loaded with 2,201 board feet of lumber and eight sacks of charcoal.

The Armak Jeep with plate number TFW-496 driven by Sison was loaded with 294 pieces of pine lumber with a volume of 1,472 board feet.

Total confiscated pine lumber was 4, 606 board feet.

The arrested suspects and confiscated items are now under the custody of Benguet provincial police office.

A case for violation of Presidential Decree 705 (illegal logging) was prepared for filing before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in the capital town of La Trinidad against the suspects.