Ecija illegal loggers nabbed

DILASAG, Aurora, Philippines – Illegal loggers are now on the run in the province following an intensified police and local government crackdown which led to the arrest of 11 suspected illegal loggers in this town and in southern Aurora.

Those arrested were Rogelio Cor­tez, 39; Noel Florendo, 45; Renato Garcia, 53; Gilberto Gravato, 42; Rolly Pacyod, 29; and Romulo Verdejo, 35; all of Barangay Bintakan, Ilagan, Isabela; Ef­ren Dediazo, 40; Julie Hernandez, 55 and Gilbert Tammidaw, 40; all of Barangay San Mariano, Kataguin, Isabela and Rolando Aldave, 45; and Felecito Aldave, 62; of Sitio Dipasaleng, Barangay Diniog, Dilasag. They were all detained at the provincial jail and charged before the regional trial court in Baler for violations of forestry laws.

Senior Superintendent Romulo Esteban, provincial police director, said that the suspects were arrested following operations conducted Sunday by a provincial police team led by deputy provincial police director, Superintendent Alfredo Roxas, the 302nd Provincial Mobile Group under Police Inspector Jun dela Cruz and the Casi­guran police Sunday in Sitio Dipasal­eng, Dilasag. They were caught in possession of 50 pieces of assorted cut lumber and chainsaw. – Manny Galvez