By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) officials, along with La Castellana Municipal Police Station operatives, intercepted a truck carrying illegally retrieved lumber, or ‘hot logs,’ last Thursday evening at Sitio Old Pabrica in Barangay Cabagnaan, La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

Police identified the driver of the truck as 28-year-old Angelo Patricio, Jr., a resident of Hacienda Remedios in Barangay Balabag, La Carlota City; and his helper 34-year-old Roderich Solis, also a resident of La Carlota City.

According to La Castellana municipal police, Noel Macado, an official from the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park coordinated with their station after spotting the truck carrying wood from Barangay Masulog in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, and intending to transport it to La Castellana.

Cops set up a checkpoint at Sitio Old Pabrica, alongside officials from CENRO-Bago City.

Around 8:50 p.m., the suspected truck passed the checkpoint carrying different kinds of wood and lumber.

When Patricio and Solis failed to produce documents pertaining to the shipment, police confiscated the truck and its cargo, while Patricio and Solis were released.

The Negros Occidental Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, meanwhile, is now investigating the incident./DGB, WDJ