‘Hot logs’ recovered in Solsona

HOT LOGS. 82 pieces of alleged illegally cut Narra tree abandoned along barangay road of sitio Cabatakan at Barangay Sta. Ana in Solsona, Ilocos Norte is discovered on Jan. 5. The DENR forest rangers said the illegally cut logs have total of 1,384.13 board feet and a market value of P131,492.25. (BBVer)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Solsona, Ilocos Norte—A total of 1,384 board feet of Narra tree worth more than 131,000 pesos was seized by law enforcers on Monday under the proverbial noses of barangay officials in Santa Ana here.

Tipped by a concerned citizen through a text message, local authorities led by P/Sr. Insp. Leonardo Tolentino and Solsona Mayor Jonathan de Lara immediately proceeded to the area at about 1 pm on Jan. 5 and discovered at least 82 pieces of illegally cut logs abandoned along a barangay road in Sitio Cabatacan near the residence of Santa Ana Brgy. chairperson Nestor del Castillo.

In an inventory conducted by forest rangers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the freshly-sawn Narra lumber measures a total of 1,384.13 board feet pegged at P95 per board feet or an estimated market value of P131,492.25.

As of press time, police investigators have yet to identify the suspects behind the illegal cutting activity.

"The investigation is still in progress. We need to have a witness in order for us to file a case against the perpetrators," said Mr. Tolentino.

Mr. Del Castillo, for his part, simply stated “no comment yet” when asked for interview.

However, Solsona councilor Mark del Castillo, committee on environment chairperson of the Solsona council, urged a thorough investigation together with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).

Under Presidential Decree 705 also known as the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines, the illegal cutting, gathering and transporting of trees and other forest products are punishable by more than six years in prison.