Soldiers seize hot lumber in Aurora
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/31/2008 6:56 PM
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Soldiers seized some 5,000 board feet of illegally cut good lumber after a firefight with suspected New People's Army guerrilas in San Luis, Aurora province Thursday.
The Philippine Army said elements of the 7th Infantry Division and the Aurora police clashed with 15 fully armed NPA men led by Benjamin Peralta alias Otoy in Sitio Sablang, Barangay Diteki, San Luis. There were no reported casualties on the government side.
Aside from the lumber, troops were also ableto recover two US rifles cal 5.56, M16 rifles, a .45 pistol, a fragmentation grenade, two handheld radios, a bag full of rice, canned goods and personal belongings, live ammo of an M203 grenade launcher, bandoliers for M16, assorted food stuff, personal effects and assorted medicines.
Lt. Col. Natalio A. Jayson, commanding officer of 48th Infantry Batallion, said soldiers are continuously conducting pursuit operations and establishing military presence and full force in the area to preempt the illegal logging activity of the NPA.
"Their involvement in illegal logging activities demonstrates their wanton disregard for the environment just to advance their misguided cause. This is a serious crime against humanity which will impact adversely on the future not only of the Aurora Province and its people but of the entire Central Luzon,” he said.
