LEGAZPI CITY (15 October) -- A ten-wheeler closed delivery van with plate number CTW-528 loaded with more or less 9,300 board feet of undocumented narra lumber and flitches with an estimated market value of P1.39 million was apprehended by authorities last October 1 along the Maharlika Highway section in Brgy. San Jose, Pili town in Camarines Sur.

The Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NAVFORSOL) together with the elements of Camarines Sur Provincial Police Office (PPO), Regional Intelligence Office 5 (RIO-5), 504th Provincial Police Mobile Group (PPMG) and the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Naga City conducted the anti-illegal logging operations.

The ten-wheeler van with a market value of P1.5 million registered under the name of Emilita G. Baritua of Tahao Road, Legazpi City, was driven by a certain Wilson Andes y Vergara with three helpers/crew identified as Efren Bugsangit y Buela aka Pedro L. Aquino, Rey y Briquillo and a certain Romeo C. Navas.

According to the three apprehended persons, the said truck departed Maximo Balayo's Compound in Brgy. Bonto in Tabaco City at about 5:00 a.m. of said day via Sabloyon Road enroute to Pili Diversion Road to avoid detection.

The truck driver was able to elude the apprehending team when flagged down in front of the CPAC-1 of Pili Municipal Office Station but the law enforcement group in pursuit arrested them in front of NFA Compound in Barangay Palestina in Pili town.