ZPPO Director Senior Supt. Rolando Felix identified the suspects as Alvin San Angel, 34, of Barangay Sta Rita, Cabangan, Zambales; Julito Cabalic, 36, of Sitio Bihawo, New Taugtog Resettlement Area and Jesus Cariño, 41, of Bacquilan Resettlement Area, all in Botolan, Zambales.
Felix said joint operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB), Provincial Special Operation Group (PSOG) and Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch (PIDMB) led by Senior Inspector Preston Bagangan caught the suspects in the act of transporting 3,500 board feet of sawn lumber (apitong and palosapis) on board a dump truck (TCH-979) driven by San Angel.
Investigation disclosed that the lumber has no pertinent document from DENR and were allegedly owned by a certain Douglas Dayo of New Taugtog Resettlement Area, Botolan, Zambales.
Records from the LTO showed that the dump truck has no Certificate of Registration (CR) and Official Receipt and is owned by one Melanie Swing of Sitio Alamac, Barangay Carael, Botolan, Zambales.
The suspects are now in custody of the ZPPO, facing charges for violation of Presidential Decree 705 as amended by RA 330 or the Anti-Illegal Logging Law before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office here.
