Narra flitches seized in Quezon

TAYABAS, Quezon, Philippines – Approximately 2,258 board feet of narra flitches contained in two closed vans were intercepted by elements of Provincial Multisectoral for Environment Protection and Management Council resulting to the arrest of four persons at Barangay Mateuna, here Monday.

PMEPMC chair Manuel Beloso identified those arrested as drivers Renato Alfuero and Frederick Calleja and helpers Ian Noga and Ramil Mogtong, all residents of Mauban, Quezon.

Beloso who is also the provincial government-Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Quezon and vice co-deputy chair of Task Force Likas Yaman which was recently formed by Gov. Rafael Nantes, said the suspects have been under the tight watch of PMEPMC on law enforcement under Gemi Formaran, a feisty journalist who also heads a media group in the province.

Formaran said they were on their way to Mauban when they suddenly intercepted the vans that were earlier identified by their informants as among the conveyances being used by the suspects in transporting the forest products to Metro Manila shortly after they were transhipped to Quezon from Isabela via motor boats.

Nantes condemned the illegal logging in his area fearing great devastation that might lead to the same tragedy that happened in Real, Infanta, Gen. Nakar (REINA) in 2004 which created a remarkable occurrence in Quezon history.  – Michelle Zoleta