The joint team of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 8) Enforcement Division, PNP Tacloban and Naval Forces Central intercepted the vehicle containing freshly cut
red Lauan lumbers and conveyance, with an estimated value of P1.3 million along Maharlika Highway, Brgy.
Some of the species grown are almon, bagtikan, mayapis, apitong,
red lauan, palosapis, white lauan, olayan, katii and nato.
Except for the three hardwood lauan species (
red lauan [Shorea negrosensis], yellow lauan [Shorea kalunti], and white lauan [Pentacme contorta]), all studied species were originally grown in China, covering an extremely broad area from the northernmost province (Heilongjiang) to southern provinces (Zhejiang, Fujian, and Yunan).
The dark red group includes
red lauan, tanguile, tianong, dark red seraya and dark red meranti.
The 2,350 board feet of white and
red lauan were abandoned by unidentified men who fled when they were confronted by the forest guards at Sitio Macaingalan, Barangay (village) Puray at Rodriguez town in Rizal province, said Ramil Gata, head of the National Power Corporation Angat Watershed Area Team (AWAT), which had been undertaking search operations there since May 29.
"The recent incident in Catanduanes opens a can of worms in the way forestry laws are enforced in other provinces nationwide," he said, referring to the arrest of two men who were illegally transporting six pieces of Narra lumber and 190 pieces of
Red Lauan lumber allegedly from the town of Bagamanoc, Catanduanes, totaling to a volume of 2,178 board feet.