Two arrested as authorities seize P810,000 in illegal lumber in Surigao del Sur

The coordinated operation was conducted in the mountainous interior of Lanuza on Wednesday, October 7, according to authorities. The confiscated materials consisted of illegally sawn hardwood lumber destined for black market sale. Brig. Gen. Rolindo M. Suguilon, director of the Police Regional Office 13 serving the Caraga region, oversaw the enforcement action that resulted in the dual arrests. The operation reflects intensified efforts by law enforcement and environmental agencies to combat illegal logging operations that continue to threaten the region's forest reserves. Illegal timber harvesting remains a persistent problem in Mindanao's interior provinces, where vast tracts of protected forest face pressure from unscrupulous operators. The seized materials and arrested individuals have been turned over to appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution under environmental protection laws.