Bacolod group files raps against DPWH, Cenro for cutting old trees

BACOLOD CITY –– The Crusaders for Justice has filed a complaint against the heads of two government agencies for cutting decades-old trees at Araneta Street in Barangay Singcang-Airport in this city.

The group’s founder and president, Dominador Villaluna Jr., said they requested the Ombudsman office to investigate the respondents for grave misconduct, grave ignorance of the law, and grave abuse of power last May 14.

Named respondents were Department of Public Works and Highways District Engineer Jaime Javellana and Joan Gerangaya, head of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) Bago City.

“Hoping that after the investigation, your office will file the appropriate case in court,” said Villaluna.

The Cenro-Bago City had granted the DPWH a permit to cut 35 molave, narra, and mahogany trees to make way for a shoulder paving project.

However, the DPWH stopped the tree cutting after an outcry from netizens.

Nine trees were spared, but it was too late for the 26 others.

Gerangaya and Javellana said they acted per the law.

“There is nothing we can do about the complaint filed. At least it will allow us to answer the allegations in the proper forum,” Gerangaya said.

“We followed procedures under the law, we were just performing our jobs,” she added.

Javellana said he had not seen the complaint but assured that the DPWH followed all legal procedures.