4 held for cutting trees in watershed

KORONADAL CITY , Philippines  – Forest rangers arrested four men who were caught cutting trees in the city’s protected watershed area Saturday.

Reports said the four suspects – identified as Rudy Iday, 48; Christian Mangonon, 29; Arman Garbajosa, 21; and Randy Peligro, 35 – were held by personnel of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office headed by Augustus Bretana and village officials led by Gregorio Presga after they chopped down gmelina trees without the necessary permit in a forested area in Barangay Saravia, one of the city’s protected watershed villages.