PRO8 scores vs. illegal loggers in Samar

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
February 20, 2013

CAMP SEC. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) arrested a big-time illegal logger and confiscated a sizeable volume of illegally-sawn lumbers in an anti-illegal logging operation in Paranas town in Samar early Tuesday morning.

“We are giving a strong message that PRO8 will not tolerate any form of violation against the environment and destruction of our natural resources,” warned Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria, PRO8 Regional Director.

The top police official identified the arrested suspect as Purita Dabuet y Ada of Brgy Cantato, Paranas, Samar, while the police are conducting manhunt operation against the driver of the vehicle used in transporting the illegal lumbers, identified as William Igdalino and his helpers.

Soria disclosed that at around 1:00 o’ clock in the early morning on Tuesday, joint elements of the PRO8 Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG8) led by Police Inspector Constantino Jabonete, Jr and Paranas Municipal Police Station led by Police Chief Inspector Doughlas Antonio Eloja, together with Forester Eddie Monsanto of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted anti-illegal logging operations in the area of Brgy. Lipata, Paranas, Samar resulting in the confiscation one blue Isuzu Elf truck marked St. Frances bearing plate number CSC 544 registered in the name of one Wilson Orsino, with postal address at Nagmisaan, Panique, Tarlac.

The police caught the helpers of said truck unloading more or less 174 pieces illegally-sawn lumbers of various sizes estimated at 963 board-feet, with a market value of P40,446.00, owned by Dabuet.

Driver Igdalino and helpers managed to evade arrest by running towards the residence of spouses Banjo and Lydia Abegonia, also of said place, and escaped through the back of said house, while owner Dabuet was arrested by the police team.

The lawmen, while chasing the running suspects, saw in plain view at the vicinity of the house of the Abegonias several illegally sawn lumbers of Lawaan specie in various sizes.

The lumbers, estimated to have a total of 1,246 board-feet and market value of P52,332.00, and one unit Resaw, a powertool used for cutting timber with motor dynamo, with serial number 748278 were confiscated by the police team.

The team also confiscated one unit red Honda XRM motorcycle without plate number used by Dabuet in clearing the route area.

Suspect Dabuet is temporarily detained at Paranas Municipal Police Station Lock-up Cell awaiting trial of her case by virtue of waiver of Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code while the police team brought the confiscated vehicles and the lumbers to Paranas Municipal Police Station for custody and the Resaw was turned-over to DENR personnel for safekeeping.

Soria further informed that a case for violation of Sec 77 of Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines as amended by Executive Order No. 277 and further amended by Republic Act 7161 was filed before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Catbalogan City docketed under NPS Number VIII-09-INQ-000102 dated February 19, 2013.