Aurora vice mayor, 8 others arrested for illegal logging

DIPACULAO, Aurora – The vice mayor of this town and eight others were arrested and detained in connection with the alleged attempt to smuggle two truckloads of “hot lumber” in this town last year.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Teope, provincial police director, served the warrant of arrest issued by Baler Regional Trial Court Branch 66 Judge Armando Yanga to Vice Mayor Narciso Amansec Thursday in his office.

Amansec, 48, a former provincial board member, was detained at the provincial jail in the capital town of Baler. No bail was recommended for his provisional liberty by prosecutors Jonald Hernandez and Hyderabad Casar as the charge against him, qualified theft in relation to PD 705 or the Forestry Laws, Rules and Regulations, is a capital offense.

Aside from Amansec, also arrested and detained were Demmy Agbayani, Danny Arellano, Reynaldo Macanas, Ricardo Macanas, Luis Mariano, Teresita Mariano, Elmo Olog, Rolly Rivera and Lito Romano.

Amansec’s arrest came amid a renewed campaign by Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo against illegal logging operations in the province, which has one of the largest forest covers in the country.

Earlier, the governor created a task force to run after illegal loggers in the province and directed Benjamin Mina, DENR provincial environment and natural resources officer, to lead the campaign in coordination with various government agencies.  

Castillo said there will be no sacred cow in the campaign, saying no one will be spared. “We are determined to stop illegal logging in Aurora no matter who gets hurt,” she said.

The case against Amansec and the eight others arose following a complaint lodged by the former police station commander of this town in connection with the seizure of some 10,000 board feet of illegally sawn lumber in Dinadiawan in two separate operations on Nov. 13 and 16 last year.

The “hot cargo” was about to be transported in two trucks when intercepted by the police.