The city government’s Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTF) seized around 192-292 board feet of illegally-cut Ipil lumber hidden under piles of bamboo poles in Barangay Irawan, Tuesday morning.
Richard Ligad, head of ACTF and city information officer, said they received a report on Monday evening that a truck is carrying illegally-cut wood covered by bamboos.
“May tumawag sa atin na informant na nagsasabi na may darating daw na Ipil sakay ng ganoong sasakyan at mayroon daw buho sa ibabaw. Di tayo nag-walang-bahala, nag-abang tayo, ang mga tropa natin nag-abang doon sa may Irawan. Kanina mga bandang ala una-bente ng madaling araw ay dumaan itong klase ng sasakyan na ito. Ni-request natin i-flag-down dahil meron namang timbre na dadaang ganung klase, at nakita nga doon ang Ipil,” Ligad said
Ligad said onboard the truck were Bryan Bule, 33, and his wife Katrina Bule, 25.
The couple failed to show any permit, he said.
“Ito ay walang kaukulang mga permit dahil ito nga ay ipinagbabawal ang pagpuputol at pagdadala nitong Ipil… sabi nila ay pang-gamit lang naman, bagkus pa ay sa korte na lang sila magpa-paliwanag kasi ito ay ipinagbabawal talagang i-transport,” he pointed out.
The confiscated Ipil lumber are now under the custody of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), he added.
Ligad said they already filed charges against the couple and the court recommended a bail bond of P40,000 for each of them.
The lumber may have come from Apurawan in Aborlan town, he said.
“Ini-encourage natin ‘yong mga kababayan natin na kapag may nakita silang ganyan ay i-timbre nila dahil bawal ‘yan, nang sa ganoon ay masasakote natin,” Ligad said.
The public can call or text the city’s emergency hotline 911 at 0927-797-2009, which will connect the information to the ACTF for immediate response.
