A barangay captain in Agusan del Sur was arrested for his alleged involvement in illegal logging activities in the area.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., the director of Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) identified the arrested village chief as Gabby Natinga, 43, of Barangay San Pedro, Prosperidad town.
“Natinga and his cohort, Jhonny Boy Bagnol, 29, were arrested Wednesday in a joint anti-illegal logging operation conducted in Purok 3, Barangay Crossing Luna, Esperanza town,” Caramat said.
Confiscated from the suspects were 420 pieces of illegally gathered Lauan lumber products with an estimated volume of 5,880 board feet and total market value estimated at PHP176,400, Caramat said.
“We have been intensifying our forest protection efforts through regular conduct of tree planting activities and anti-illegal logging operations. With our recent confiscations and apprehensions, we hope to send a strong message to illegal loggers that we will deal with them with the full force of the law,” Caramat said.
He urged residents to stay vigilant and help in the efforts to protect the environment by reporting any illegal logging activity in their area.
The suspects will be charged for violating the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.
The confiscated lumber products were handed over to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Source: Philippines News Agency