IN DSB
2 facing charges
for illegal logging

Charges for violation of Forestry Code of the Philippines has been filed against two residents of Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, Wednesday, before the Provincial Prosecutor's Office, in Bacolod City, a press release from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office said.

Facing raps under Presidential Decree 705are Wilfredo Samson of Purok Avocado, Spur 11, Brgy. Bunga, and Arsenio Bacordo, of Sitio Palala, Brgy. Bagong Silang.

The CENRO press release said Samson and Bacordo were apprehended separately by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office filed monitoring station personnel, and Bantay Lasang volunteers, and DSB policemen.

Samson was charged with illegal possession of several pieces of poles of different dimensions and sizes of Dipterocarp tree species taken from the North Negros Natural Park .

He admitted having illegally cut, gathered, transported and possessed the items that had a total volume of 3.78 cubic meters, or 1,602.72 board feet.

Meanwhile, Bacordo was also charged with illegal cutting of Dipterocarp trees, also within the NNNP. Also seized from him were 30 sacks of charcoal, and 387 assorted flitches, the press release added.*

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Cops file raps vs. 11
for selling pirated CDs

Eleven persons arrested for selling pirated optical media products with pornographic films, at the Gaisano Super Mall in Singcang, Bacolod City , have been charged for violation of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code.

Senior Inspector Rico Santotome, chief of the Negros Occidental police Special Operations Group, yesterday said the owner of the shopping mall may also be held liable, for allowing the selling of pirated digital and video compacts discs, and pornographic films, in the establishment that had been raided several times already.

The recent raid yielded about 5,000 pirated DVDs and VCDs, nine television sets, 5 DVD players with six speakers and the arrest of 11 sales clerks. It was jointly conducted by the NOPPO intelligence operatives, who are deputized agents of the Optical Media Board, SOG operatives, 612nd PMG and Women's and Children Protection Center .

Charged before the City Prosecutor's Office were Sarah Ali, Joan Belleza, Rochelle Arroyo, Michelle Leduna, Pitie Ali, Glaiza Diola, Jasmine Rios, Irish Resmundo, Jean Torres, Watari Dilinog and Gremabelle Diola, alll residents of Bacolod City .

Santotome said they discovered that Rios used a fictitious name, which is a violation of Article 178 of the Revised Penal Code. His true name is Asmin Datumanong Sultan, the police office said.

Bail was set by the court at P24,000 each for the 11 arrested suspects.

Two weeks ago, more than P400,000 worth of confiscated pirated DVDs and VCDs were destroyed at the NOPPO headquarters in Bacolod City .*GPB

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Man held up

Roy Purillo, 20, riding on a Bata-Libertad jeepney was robbed by two unidentified men who pointed a gun at him and took his Nokia cellphone and P3,500 in cash, near the Lupit church at Lizares-Lacson streets, in Bacolod , at about 2 p.m. yesterday.

SPO1 Mario Alisbo of Police Station 6 said Purillo told them it was the second time he was robbed.*PP

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