KIAMBA, Sarangani — Authorities seized approximately 6,700 board feet of suspected illegally sawn lumber estimated at ₱270,000 and apprehended two men during a checkpoint operation in Kiamba, Sarangani Province on September 6, 2026.
The operation was conducted at around 5:30 p.m. at Sitio Lenik, Barangay Nalus, by joint elements of the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Sarangani Police Provincial Office (PIU-SPPO), Kiamba Municipal Police Station (MPS), Municipal Law Enforcement Team (MLET), and the 2nd Sarangani Provincial Mobile Force Company.
Police said the team was conducting a checkpoint operation when officers flagged down a yellow Isuzu Wing occupied by two male individuals.
The vehicle was subjected to inspection and verification, leading authorities to discover a substantial quantity of lumber believed to have been sourced illegally.
The shipment consisted of approximately 1,700 board feet of Lauan and 5,000 board feet of Gmelina, for a combined estimated volume of 6,700 board feet and an assessed market value of approximately ₱270,000.
Authorities said the two occupants were unable to present valid legal documents, permits to cut, or proof of lawful purchase covering the forest products being transported.
The absence of the required documentation prompted authorities to confiscate the lumber and take the two men into custody for proper investigation and disposition.
The seized forest products have since been turned over to the custody of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Poblacion, Kiamba, which will handle their appropriate disposition in accordance with existing forestry laws and regulations.
Meanwhile, the two apprehended individuals remain under the custody of the Kiamba MPS as authorities proceed with the necessary documentation and legal proceedings.
The operation underscores the continuing enforcement efforts against the illegal cutting, possession, and transportation of forest products, particularly the movement of lumber without the permits and supporting documents required under environmental and forestry regulations.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the two apprehended men or indicated whether charges have already been formally filed. The seized lumber remains subject to further verification and disposition by the appropriate environmental authorities.