RMO-6 readies charges vs consignee of 'hot lumber'

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

The hot lumber seized by the authorities from the container yard of the Sulpicio Lines last March 12 were indeed illegal as it does not have proper documents.

This was confirmed by the Regional Maritime Office (RMO-6) after it opened the container van containing the alleged hot lumber.

The alleged consignee Serge Mojeco did not appear during the unsealing of the container van.

Oscar L. Letrero of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Forest protection and Reinforcement task force said the lumber each measuring 2”x3”x 8' have an estimated total cost of P230,000.

RMO-6 chief Supt. Cornelio R. Salinas said they are readying cases to be filed in court against the consignee.

Police and DENR personnel served on March 17 a search warrant issued by RTC Judge Danilo P. Galvez on the shipment of alleged illegal lumber consigned to a certain Serge Mojeco.

“The container van was a subject of an intelligence report received by RMO-6 which stated that it contained sawn lumber without pertinent documents,” Salinas pointed out.

Salinas noted the search was witnessed by Sulpicio Lines Iloilo manager Kim L. Pancho, Brgy. Lapuz Sur captain Eduardo A. Alcubilla and members of the press.

“Upon its opening and verification of the said container van, it was found out to be positive of sawn lumber more or less 7,800 board feet without pertinent documents in gross violation of PD 705 otherwise known as Revised Forestry Code as amended,” Salinas said.

To note, around 11 a.m. of March 12, joint elements of RMO-6 led by Insp. Greg T. Togonon and DENR ( CENR-Iloilo City ) under forest ranger Teddy S. Suelo intercepted for verification the container van while it was being unloaded from SULCON XIV vessel of Sulpicio Lines docked at Luboc Port in La Paz district.

“Initial verification made by the team revealed that the shipment came from Iligan City via Manila and was consigned to Mojeco of still unknown address in Iloilo City and was declared as hardware materials as per coasting manifest,” Togonon said in a spot report.

“The team waited for the alleged consignee to show up and claim his shipment but he failed to appear at the container yard of Sulpicio Lines,” Togonon cited.