60- and 61-yr-old farmers arrested in Isabela in anti-illegal logging operation; Worth P25K lumber seized

SAN MARIANO, Isabela — Two senior citizen farmers were arrested after authorities seized 19 pieces of undocumented sawn lumber worth more than ₱25,000 during an anti-illegal logging operation in Sitio Dinuman, Barangay Libertad, San Mariano, Isabela, on September 22, 2026.

The suspects, identified only by their aliases “Pablo,” 60, and “Felipe,” 61, both married farmers and residents of San Mariano, were allegedly caught collecting and piling up sawn lumber when police and environment personnel arrived at around 11:05 a.m.

San Mariano Police Station chief PMAJ Julius Telan said the operation was conducted by police personnel in coordination with the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO).

Authorities recovered 19 pieces of common hardwood, or “dos lapad,” including white lauan, with various dimensions and an estimated total volume of 500 board feet. The seized forest products were valued at more than ₱25,000.

Police said the two suspects failed to present the required documents showing the legality of their possession of the forest products.

The suspects were brought to the San Mariano Community Hospital for medical examination before being placed under the custody of the San Mariano Police Station for investigation and documentation.

The seized lumber was marked and inventoried at the site in the presence of the barangay chairperson, who witnessed the procedure. It was later brought to the police station before being turned over to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Naguilian for official inventory, assessment, and proper disposition.

The authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the possession of the undocumented forest products.

Part of continuing anti-illegal logging drive

The arrest comes amid continuing anti-illegal logging operations in Isabela.

In June, two men aged 50 and 29 were arrested in Cordon after they were allegedly caught cutting and sawing trees without the required permits. Authorities seized Melina logs and lumber as well as an unregistered chainsaw.

In August, authorities also conducted an anti-illegal logging operation in San Mariano that resulted in the seizure of about 1,100 board feet of sawn lumber valued at ₱55,000. Three suspects identified by aliases reportedly escaped and remained at large at the time of the report.

Under existing forestry laws, possession or transport of forest products without the required legal documents can result in enforcement action under Presidential Decree No. 705, or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.