Arrest of ‘illegal loggers’ point to NPA, pols ‘alliance’ in Mindoro
Dump truck of Bulalacao LGU used to transport illegal logs
THE arrest of five persons transporting illegally-cut timbers from the forest of Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, last September 6, 2021, point not only to the involvement of some of its local officials in illegal logging but also their ‘secret alliance’ with the local command of the terrorist group, New People’s Army, the armed component of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Information reaching Pinoy Exposé that on the evening of September 6, joint elements from the Bulalacao Municipal Police Office, 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, effected an anti-illegal logging operation in the vicinity of Sitio Maradanum, Bgy. Campaasan, Bulalacao, that led to the arrest of the following:
Roberto Obias Soler, 49 years old, driver, married and a resident of Brgy. Nasucob, Bulalacao; local residents, Michael Barce Bañares, 33 years old, single, construction worker; Eduard Banay Rada, 27 years old, single, driver; Michael Martisana Patricio, 20 years old, single, fisherman; and, Cyrus Rada Espendion, 19, years old, single, jobless.
The arresting team discovered some 1,400 board feet of illegally-sawn lumbers cut in different sizes with an estimated value of P56,000.00, on board the dump truck (Plate No. SGR-245) owned by the Bulalacao local government.
A case for violation of PD 705 (illegal logging) is being prepared against the suspects.
Two sources who talked to Pinoy Exposé on condition of anonymity, said a ranking elected official in Bulalacao is behind the still ongoing “massive” illegal logging operation in the municipality.
The Bulalacao LGU, which borders Mindoro Occidental, is presently headed by Mayor Ernillo C. Villas.
Similar illegal logging operations are also allegedly being perpetrated by other elected local officials in Mindoro Oriental such as in the municipality of Pola.
When asked by Pinoy Exposé how illegal logging can continue in the province, especially in Bulalacao, given the strong presence of the NPA, one of the sources said most Bulalacao and other Mindoro officials are “friends” and “business partners” of the terrorist group in their criminal activities.
“Dito sa Bulalacao, mga NPA na mismo ang pumuputol ng mga kahoy at ibinababa naman sa kabihasnan gamit ang dump truck ng munisipyo” (Here in Bulalacao it is the NPA who is doing the cutting of the trees and then the dump truck owned by the municipality is used to transport them to the urban center), he explained.
The sources added that after an encounter between the NPA with the police or members of the 203RD Brigade, the Army command responsible for internal security operation in Mindoro Island, it is “common knowledge” among the locals that wounded terrorists are often transported away from the battle scene using vehicles of local government units.
