Controversial Brgy. Capt. Leandro de la Torre is back in jail after being arrested yesterday by Task Force Ilahas operatives in Murcia, Negros Occidental, allegedly for violation of PD 705, or the Forestry Code of the Philippines.

TFI operatives seized about 600 board feet of regulated species of narra from the compound of De la Torre, who is facing frustrated murder charges in court, in Brgy. Pandanon Silos, Murcia.

SPO1 Stanley Mendoza of the TFI said de la Torre failed to present documents, allowing him to possess banned species of forestry products.

TFI investigations show that the narra lumber, in assorted sizes, had been cut from Sitio Binitinan, Brgy. Pandanon Silos, Murcia, which is part of an Integrated Social Forestry area and of the Northern Negros Natural Park.

Mendoza said de la Torre claimed he was asked by Rebecca Alba to cut the narra trees that allegedly hampered the road widening project in the barangay.

But Mendoza said their investigations showed that the narra lumber was supposedly due for transport on Tuesday night, to a buyer who had already given an initial payment of P8,000 to de la Torre.

The transport of lumber was not pushed through because of the unavailability of the vehicle, he said.

The raid at the compound of de la Torre was covered by a search warrant issued by Murcia Judge Orlando Ayeng.

De la Torre was charged in court for frustrated murder, for the injury of Mary Ann Maranon on Oct. 28 last year. Three months after, the house of de la Torre was razed by fire, which he claimed had been set intentionally.

De la Torre and Pandanon Silos Kagawad Jose Magsico traded accusations for the injury of Marañon, who, with several others, happened to be passing by when the alleged ambush incident took place in the barangay, a night before the Oct. 29 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Mendoza said de la Torre will be charged for violation of Section 77 of PD 705, for possessing regulated species of narra without pertaining documents.*GPB

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