DENR-8 seizes ‘hot’ timber

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Operatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 8 on Friday intercepted and seized two truckloads of newly cut lawaan timber along the San Juanico Bridge, while about to be delivered to a hardware store in this city.

DENR-8 assistant director for technical services Carlito Tuballa said the two trucks were separately apprehended by operatives after an intelligence report bared that truckloads of lawaan timber were on their way for delivery to this city from Samar.

Tuballa said the truckloads of timber was later determined to have a volume of 15,600 board feet. He surmised these came from Marabut and Basey, two towns in Samar considered hot spot areas for illegal logging over the past years.

Tuballa identified the truck owner as Glenda Colinayo, a trader in Basey, who however denied owning the illegal lumber, but pointed instead to a certain Walie Lacambino.

Lacambino, she claimed, rented her trucks but without her prior knowledge that these will be used to transport pieces of lumbers to Tacloban. “I don’t have knowledge about it, that is why I am here at the DENR office to clarify what transpired “ Conayo told The Freeman.

But Tuballa insisted that Colinayo may not be off the hook, as administrative forfeiture proceedings are still going on to determine who are the people behind in the transport of the illegal lumber.

“Everything will be found out who would be criminally charged, Colinayo is still not safe, unless it will be found out that she is not in connivance with this illegal transaction,” said Tuballa.

The confiscated lumbers are now in custody of the DENR-8 for proper disposition. (FREEMAN)