Troops confiscate ‘hot’ logs in Bulacan

From the Daily Tribune (May 18): Troops confiscate ‘hot’ logs in Bulacan

Military troops seized illegally cut logs during a dragnet operation in Bulacan province on Monday.

Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio Osias IV, commander of the Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion (IB), said that a total of 300 board feet of good Red Lawaan lumber in assorted cuts, six motorcycles and an Elf truck were intercepted by members of the Bravo Company, under Lt. Rex Payot.

Osias said that the seizure was a result of information provided by a concerned citizen about the illegal logging activity in the area.

He said elements of the 48th IB’s Bravo Company immediately set up a dragnet that resulted in the interception of the illegally cut logs and vehicles along Sitio Buasao, Barangay Sapang Bulac, Doña Remedios Trinidad town.

However, the suspects managed to flee after sensing the presence of military troops along their route, leaving behind their vehicles and the logs.

“The operation is part of the 48th IB’s commitment to protect our environment. The intelligence-driven anti-illegal logging operation was a success due to the coordination of civilians in the area,” Osias said.

Osis said that operations are now ongoing to track down the suspects.

The confiscated logs were turned over to environment officials in San Rafael, Bulacan after they were entered into the blotter of the Doña Remedios Trinidad Police Station.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/troops-confiscate-hot-logs-in-bulacan