P240,000 WORTH OF AGARWOOD CONFISCATES, 6 SUSPECTS ARRESTED

SAN FRANCISCO, AGUSAN DEL SUR - RMFB 13 and police seized 4 kilos of agarwood or locally known as Lapnisan worth P240,000 at the checkpoint in Barangay 3 San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

PCpt. Renel Serrano, a spokesperson in Police Regional Office (PRO) 13, said a concerned citizen sent information regarding the agarwood being traveled from Samar, Leyte to Davao Region. The suspects were not able to provide legal documents of the agar, the reason for their arrest.

Police identified the suspects as Jesus Talbo Canoningo and his live-in partner, Ida Ricote Yanto, residents of Purok 5 Barangay Palaypay Basey, Western Samar; Allan Lap-ogan Tiambong, resident of Purok 5 Barangay Canaway, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte; Bonifacio Bernales Cañon Jr. and his live-in partner who are residing in Mahayahay, Sogod, Southern Leyte; Anita Daleon Lagare, resident of Purok 3 Barangay Marcelina, Bayugan City; and Jerry Calem Tejio with his live-in partner, both are residents of Purok 11 Barangay Boronggan, Eastern Samar.

All arrested suspects are facing charges for violation of Presidential Decree 705 or Forestry Code of the Philippines. However, the said case has a bail at P40,000 for temporary release.

Meanwhile, the suspects are in the custody of the San Francisco Municipal Office and the confiscated agarwood are in the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) for proper disposition.