Two Tadian locals arrested, chainsaw seized in Sagada

Camp Bado Major Dangwa, La Trinidad, Benguet – (April 14, 2021) –  Two alleged illegal loggers were arrested in a forested area at Kiltepan, Batalao, Antadao, Sagada, Mountain Province in the afternoon of April 9, 2021.

Based on a report to the Regional Director PBGEN RONALD OLIVER LEE, operatives of Sagada MPS arrested two suspects after they were caught in the act of cutting pine tree into logs using undocumented chainsaws with serial numbers.

The suspects were identified as Nixon Gatilowan Batawang , 20, and Tony Kige-i Gatil-owan, 23, who are family related, both natives of Bantey, Tadian  and laborers at Sagada Mt Province.

The report showed that operatives who were on patrol that time, heard the sound of chainsaw, which prompted them to investigate and coordinate with the DENR office. The two suspects were arrested after they failed to present any pertinent document of the chainsaw or permit to the operatives.

Confiscated from them were four pieces of pine logs and two chainsaws worth Php 35,000.00 each. The sawn lumbers were scaled and stumped by DENR representative Mr Archie Tabbang. The arrested suspects and confiscated chainsaws were brought  to Sagada MPS for proper disposition.

The Police Regional Office Cordillera intensifies not only its anti-illegal logging efforts but also its tree-planting program, as part of the PNP’s Core Value “Makakalikasan”. With these efforts, PROCOR recorded a total of 72,834 seedlings of fruit bearing and non- fruit bearing trees planted by its different units for the first quarter of this year. (PROCOR RPIO)