TACLOBAN CITY – Two Chinese nationals and their cohorts were caught in the act of buying of agar wood wedges, locally known as “Lanete/Lapnisan,” in Abuyog, Leyte Sunday.
The Chinese suspects were identified as Shisheng Chen, 34-years-old, married, and Jiancong Zhu, 33-years-old, both residents of Fujian, China.
Their Filipino cohorts were Leo Lim, 36-years-old, single, and resident of Davao del Sur, and Grace Ann Austria, 34-years-old, single, resident of Davao City.
Police Capt. Ronald Espina, Abuyog police chief, together with the representatives from the municipal environment and natural resources office and Task Force Bantay Kalikasan led by Forest Ranger Eugene Velasco, conducted the operation in Barangay Burubud-an, at about 9:30 p.m.
Apprehended persons were caught in possession and control of agar wood wedges, weighing 9.4 kilograms from illegally cut Lapnisan/Lanete, an endangered tree species with the estimated street value amounting to P400,000. (Marie Tonette Marticio)
