SURIGAO CITY – Operatives of the Surigao del Norte Maritime Police Station (SDN-MARPSTA) arrested four illegal loggers while patrolling in the waters of barangay Talisay Friday, police authorities reported.
Lt Robert Sorilla, chief of SDN-MARPSTA, said that their office received a report regarding the presence of the suspects in said barangay and they are transporting illegally-cut lumber products from the island of Dinagat to the mainland Surigao.
“The seaborne patrol intercepted a motor Banca without outrigger known as ‘bote’ in the area loaded with 73 pieces of Magkono logs,” the SDN-MARPSTA narrated.
He said the illegal lumber products have, more or less, 4.85 cubic meters, and have a total market value of around P365,000, it was learned.
The suspect reportedly used a motor Banca to transport the “hot lumber” to their buyers and business contacts.
It was also learned that the motor Banca, including its engine and other accessories, was valued at P300,000. It was also seized by police operatives during the raid as evidence of their smuggling activities.
The police did not name the suspects yet while full investigations of their illegal activities are still ongoing. But the suspects, according to initial reports have been into these illegal businesses many years ago.
The suspects are now temporarily detained pending the filing of appropriate charges in court for violating Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705, otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines. – PNA
4 illegal loggers nabbed in Surigao City
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