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Town police chief in NVizcaya in hot water over illegal logging


BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — A police officer in this northern Philippine province is in hot water for alleged involvement in in illegal logging activities. Bambang town's Mabuslo village councilor Nelli Cara has accused Chief Inspector Janton Albano, Bambang police chief, of having escorted a truck which was loaded with some 3,000 board feet of undocumented timber. In an interview with GMANews.TV, Cara said on Friday that residents of the village have reported that an Isuzu Elf truck with plate number WSB 437, believed to be loaded with illegally-cut logs was supposed to pass through the village Tuesday night. Cara said that she initially instructed members of anti-illegal logging task force Bantay Bayan to block the truck's path but, without a barricade, the truck simply drove through. "It was for two consecutive nights already that the truck shipped out logs from Tawacan village in Kasibu. When it was about to pass by my house, I've decided to block it myself," she said. She added that she had been informed that a certain Ernesto Tucal was the one who delivered the logs, but she claimed that Albano admitted to her that he owned of the shipment. She also confirmed that Albano, who arrived a few minutes later on a patrol car, approached her and requested that the truck be spared because it will be the last shipment anyway. "When Albano and several policemen arrived, I thought they came to help us but he instead held my arm and pulled me to the roadside and signaled to the truck's driver to leave the place," Cara said. Members of Bantay Bayan said they tried to go after the truck but the police's Toyota Innova patrol vehicle blocked their way. GMANews.TV was able to talk to Albano who was in Baguio City. He denied the accusations, saying it was impossible for him to be in the area since he was with his family at the time of the incident. "I was on a mandatory leave. How can I be in two places at the same time? This is clearly politically motivated," Albano said, claiming he has been experiencing harassment from several politicians since January. "The story floated by some people is an outright lie concocted by some politicians. I surmise that they perceive me as a threat to their political ambitions since I am close to the mayor but it's only because we share the same passion, we are both shooters," he added. Meanwhile Cagayan Valley police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian said he had already ordered an investigation on the matter and requested the Commission on Elections for the relief of PCI Janton Albano as Bambang police chief. On the other hand, Albano said he had already asked his superiors to relieve him from his post while he contemplates on his "course of action against Cara." — LBG, GMANews.TV
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