Hot logs seized in Quezon

MANILA, Philippines - Some 10,000 pieces of suspected illegally cut logs were confiscated as they were about to be transported to Puerto Real in Quezon province while others were found buried in the sand, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

Lt. Joselito Maluyo, PCG Puerto Real station commander, reported to the PCG headquarters in Manila that as of yesterday morning, they had already found 10,000 logs.

The confiscated logs had an estimated value of P1.2 million.

Maluyo said their detachment in Dinahican got information last Tuesday that the illegal logs were seen being towed by an unmarked motorized boat that reportedly came from Barangay Banbanan in General Nakar town.

The logs were reportedly being delivered to the Visayan village in Barangay Dinahican, Infanta town.

On Wednesday morning, PCG operatives planned to intercept the motorboat towing the illegal logs, but upon their arrival in Dinahican, the suspects hastily left, leaving the hot logs scattered.

The PCG, accompanied by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Navy and police, inspected the area and found several logs buried in the sand along the shorelines of the Visayan village.

The seized logs were loaded onto trucks and impounded at the Navy base in Infanta town.

PCG spokesman Lt. Commander Armand Balilo said it is possible that the logs would be used to build boats in Puerto Real.

“If there are orders for boats, they deliver the logs,” he said.