P40T worth of logs seized from Asturias town official

CEBU, Philippines - Several log bolts of Mahogany trees amounting P40,000 were confiscated by the Asturias police after a town official who owns the logs failed to present a permit to transport them Wednesday afternoon in Sitio Lamak, Barangay Bago.

Police said Urbanito Noel, a municipal councilor, tried to stop their mobile patrol in Barangay Tubigan while they were on their way to the police station. Noel told them he owns the logs but when SPO2 Dennis Nocos, Asturias police investigator asked him for permit to transport the logs, he failed to show it.

The police were on mobile when they sighted the Isuzu Elf bearing plate numbers GFE-806 along the road fully-loaded with 54 log bolts in different length and diameter.

Mark Anthony Encabo, the driver, and the two helpers, Jolan Espadilla and Jake Tumulak also failed to show a permit when the police asked for it.

Nocos said the transporter should always have with him a permit whenever they transport logged trees. The permit must be issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as the agency prohibits illegal logging.

Nocos told The FREEMAN that when Noel flagged down their vehicle in Barangay Tubigan and failed to show a permit, he advised him to follow to the police station. About 7:30 in the evening, Noel allegedly went to the police station and presented a permit to transport that is registered under the name of Florante Delfin, his brother-in-law. But police still refused to return the confiscated logs and preferred to forward the case to the DENR-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) in Toledo City as the proper agency to decide on the violation.  (FREEMAN)