BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. ordered the police of Ajuy, Iloilo to file a case against illegal loggers in the town’s timberland.
Defensor said he had already talked to Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director, Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Raul Lorilla about the illegal logging in Sitio Pulacan West, Barangay Luca in the said town.
Barangay Captain Renato Mahanlud of Luca, Ajuy went to the office of the governor and complained about the delayed legal action against the perpetrators.
To recall, the barangay council of Luca passed Resolution 2014-17 seeking the governor’s intercession to save the timberland that covers about one to two hectares of land in Sitio Pulacan West.
Mahanlud disclosed that a certain Cacho was leading the illegal logging activity in the area.
Their illegal operations, according to Mahanlud, started even before super typhoon “Yolanda” struck northern Iloilo.
They have direct buyers both in Ajuy and Metro Manila, Mahanlud added.
Mahanlud alleged that some 100 trees had already been cut and converted into lumber./PN
