Baguio cops corner two online selling ‘hot’ Benguet pine log

BAGUIO CITY (July 9, 2021)—  Authorities arrest two individuals for onlind selling a Benguet Pine tree log Thursday afternoon at Gibraltar Road, here.

The suspects were named by Baguio police chief, Col. Glenn Lonogan as Raymel Kit Javrigue, a computer technician, from barangay Hillside and Antonio Viray, 57, a jeepney driver living in barangay Gabriela Silang.

Lonogan said a policeman saw Javrigue selling via social media a Benguet Pine log.  The cop “engaged” the online Benguet pine seller making Javrigue to agree for a meet-up Thursday afternoon.

Operatives set-up an entrapment operation and when Javrigue and Viray delivered the log at the agreed meeting area, policemen caught them after confirming they were not sanctioned by government for their trade.

Lonogan said the log worth P30,000.00 was turned-over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Cordillera.

The two suspects will be facing illegal logging charges, vowed Lonogan.

Artemio A. Dumla