Lumber, Narra flitches seized from businessman

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources VII confiscated 75 pieces of Mancono and Dipterocarp lumber and Narra flitches from the compound of a businessman in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City last Friday.

The seizure was made by virtue of a search warrant Number 2001-07-721 issued by Mandaue Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Marilyn Yap last July 22, 2011. DENR said the businessman, Elder Cabahug, violated Presidential Decree 702 or the Forestry Code of the Philippines, in relation to Executive Order 23.

The confiscated lumber and flitches have an aggregate volume of 5,402 board feet with an estimated value of P2.5 million. 

The task force was composed of Forester Raul Pasoc, Forest Rangers Danilo Orbasido and Lucito Sardañas, OIC-Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Loreto Rivac and OIC-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Richard Abella together with Naval Intelligence Group, Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu, and the Philippine National Police in Mandaue City.

DENR 7 Director Maximo Dichoso said Cabahug will be made to undergo Administrative Adjudication Proceedings to determine his culpability, as well as the appropriate charges against him.

Cabahug, the brother of basketball star Elmer Cabahug, was not at the compound during the seizure but the service of the warrant was witnessed by officials of Barangay Looc.

A vehicle, believed to be used to carry the forest products, was reportedly spotted within the perimeter of the compound reportedly managed to escape.

Dichoso said the task force applied for the search warrant after learning that Cabahug was in possession of undocumented forests products, including 33 pieces of mancono lumber with a volume of 3,200 board feet; two pieces of narra flitches with a volume of 158 board feet; and 36 pieces of dipterocarp lumber with a volume of 827 board feet.  

These forest products are believed to have come from Surigao. They are now with the DENR-CENRO in Cebu City for safekeeping.

Reports have it that aside from the forest products found within Cabahug’s compound, three pieces of mancono lumber with a volume of 793 board feet and one 424 board feet of dipterocarp species were also found submerged in the water along the shoreline of the private wharf operated by Cabahug’s family.

The private wharf was placed under surveillance by the personnel of DENR and the police for several months following reports that it was used as entry point of illegal lumber from Mindanao.

“The movement of logs, lumber, plywood, veneer, non-timber forest products and wood-based or non-wood based products or commodities shall be covered with appropriate certificates of origin,” Dichoso said.

Dichoso explained the requirement of providing transport documents covering the said forest commodities becomes very important, not only as basis for determining the resource drain but also in providing a control mechanism against the unauthorized movement and disposition of contraband forest products.

Mancono (Xanthostemon verdugonianus) is one of the most valuable and important species in the Philippines because of its hardness and weight. It is used to make posts, saltwater piling, tool handles, bowling balls, dumb-bells, paper weights, and other novelties.  (FREEMAN)