Aklan PNP steps up operations in illegal lumber
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) reported the confiscation of illegal lumber in Sitio Libuton in Barangay Bakhaw Norte, this town.
Joint operatives of the APPO, Aklan Public Safety Management Company, Provincial Intelligence Special Operations Group, Kalibo and Numancia police stations led the operation in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
PO2 Nida Gregas, APPO Information Officer, said 1,140 board feet of banned species of molave, red and white lawaan were confiscated Wednesday afternoon from 71-year old Fabio Recto, boat operator/owner and a native of Barangay Espana, San Fernando, Romblon.
Recto could not produce the required DENR permit to possess and transport the lumber on board his motorized pump boat from Romblon. Under Section 68 of the Forestry Code, transportation of timber or other forest products without authority or without the legal documents required under forest rules and regulations is punishable by law.
The hot lumber of assorted sizes is now in the custody of Rene Reyes, Chief of Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Forest Management Services.

Meanwhile, the local police in Boracay Island arrested the suspect in a shooting incident involving a Mongolian national yesterday morning.
Police authorities identified the victim as 28-year old Ryenchinsureh Suhuvaatar, a resident of Golpitalnry Val 55-79 Russia. The victim, who sustained gunshot wounds on his abdomen and right forearm, was on vacation when the incident happened in Barangay Balabag.
The suspect Alex Dechimo, 29, manager of Live City and a native of Block 2, Lot 12, Home Site Subdivision Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and presently residing at Sitio Bolabog in Barangay Balabag, is temporarily detained at the Boracay Special Tourist Protection Office pending the filing of appropriate charges. Recovered from Dechimo's possession were .357 caliber magnum loaded with three ammunitions, two spent shell on its cylinder and four caliber 38 special live ammunitions.