Illegal logs and mining paraphernalia confiscated by Benguet COPS

CAMP MAJOR BADO DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – In the province of Benguet, regular forest patrol of the Benguet Police Provincial Office (PPO) led to the discovery of illegally sawn lumber and illegal mining paraphernalia on the last day of January 2021.

In Sablan, the early morning forest patrol of the police officers of Sablan Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Pappa Communal Forest led to the discovery of 138 board feet of illegally sawn mahogany and molave lumber with an estimated market value of Php 7,367.00.

In the afternoon of the same day, again, forest patrollers of Sablan MPS in Sitio Talete, Brgy. Bayabas were able to recover abandoned illegally sawn acacia lumber with a total volume of 83 board feet with an estimated market value of Php 4,565.00 Sablan.

In another forest patrol in Sitio Penged, Barangay Nangalisan in Tuba, police were able to recover illegally sawn kalasan lumber with a total volume of 150 board feet and an estimated market value of Php 5,100.00.

Likewise, in Sitio Ulman, Ambassador, Tublay, police were able to confiscate abandoned illegally sawn pine lumber with a total volume of 50 board feet with an estimated market value of Php 1,750.00 and in Sitio Bayoyo, Brgy. Tabio, Mankayan, a total of 30 board feet of abandoned illegally sawn pine lumber with an estimated market value of Php 1,050.00 were recovered by the forest patrollers.

Meanwhile, in Kabayan, the personnel of Kabayan MPS conducting patrol discovered a mining portal in Sitio Tibaran, Barangay Poblacion. The patrollers were able to recover two sacks of partially processed mineral ore and one shovel in the area. The entrance of the mining portal was dismantled by the patrollers and covered with tree trunks and rocks.

According to the report of the Provincial Director, PCOL ELMER E RAGAY, for the month of January, the different units of Benguet PPO were able to conduct 27 anti-illegal logging operations resulting in the confiscation of a total of 2,768 board feet of illegally sawn lumber with an estimated market value of Php 105,832.00. Moreover, they were able to accomplish seven anti-illegal mining operations which resulted in the discovery of 8 mining portals and the confiscation of 20 sacks of mineral ores and various mining paraphernalia. (PROCOR RPIO)