Police in Talisay seize Gemelina lumber

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City police Tuesday afternoon seized a truckload of Gemelina logs at the Cebu South Coastal Road, barangay Cansojong.

The Isuzu drop-side truck (GRW 571), which carried the lumbers, was from Mandaue City and was on its way to barangay Pooc, Talisay City, according to the police.

PO2 Reynato Pendo, who was with the team that seized the hot logs, said the logs are estimated to be 40,000 board feet.

Pendo said they were patrolling the area together with SPO2 Sherwin Abellare when they noticed the truck carrying the logs.

He said they stopped it and asked from its driver Leomedis Armero, 51, if his baggage had permits.

It turned out that the documents that Armero had for his logs had expired.

Last month, President Aquino issued EO No. 23, which imposed a six-year ban on cutting and harvesting of trees all over the country.

The hot logs are now with the Talisay City Police Station in barangay Poblacion waiting for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources people to get them. – THE FREEMAN