BY SHIELA G. GELERA
The police seized about P61,182 in narra lumber in Hacienda Felecia 2 in Barangay 8, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, recently.
Thirty-four pieces of narra lumber, 29 squared lumber, and five slabs, with total volume of 407.88 board feet, were recovered during the operation, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Cadiz City reported.
Personnel of the Victorias Police Station and the Victorias City Environment and Natural Resources Office confiscated the lumber from the house of Olejario Bernabe in Barangay 8 that had been cut under the supervision of Ramon Frel, the report said.
Bernabe and Frel failed to present any permit or cutting clearance, in violation of Presidential Decree 705, or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippine, as amended by Republic Act 7161 and Executive Order 277, it said.
An apprehension receipt was issued to Bernabe and Frel, who were detained at the Victorias Police Station, and later released when the reglementary period for their detention had lapsed, the report added.
CENRO Cadiz has taken custody of the lumber while an administrative adjudication proceeding will be conducted.*
