About 1,021 board feet of assorted lumber without any permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) were confiscated by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Enforcement Team on Monday, March 14 in Barangay Puring, Bataraza, Southern Palawan.
The confiscated lumber was caught in the possession of illegal logging suspects Arthur Simpliciano, Edwin Flores, Ronald Bundal, Jaynol Ducot Misal, Jayson Jakia Ducot and Romel Asil, according to a spot report from the PCSD Enforcement Team.
They, however, were able to evade arrest “due to the threatening intervention” of Barangay Chairman Abdulkarim Khaizar Salahudi of Bgy. Buliluyan, the report said.
Criminal cases will be filed for violation of P.D. 705 or the Philippine Forestry Code and for Obstruction of Justice.
The confiscated lumber and the vehicle that was used by the group in carrying the forest products were brought to Puerto Princesa for proper disposition.