Residents identify mayor’s brother in tree-cutting
TALISAY City Councilor Antonio Bacaltos yesterday led the media in visiting sitio Campesa, Barangay Manipis yesterday to prove his allegations that trees in the area were illegally cut.
He accused Joel de los Reyes, brother of Mayor Johnny de los Reyes as the one who led the cutting of the mahogany trees.
Bacaltos delivered a privilege speech on the issue and submitted a report to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Leo Togonon, president of a farmer’s organization informed him about the illegal cutting of trees.
He showed a blotter to the media stating that the cutting of the trees happened on March 1 and 2 at around 2 p.m. and on March 5 at 8:30 p.m., logs were transported using a government-owned vehicle.
But Joel denied the allegation saying he never visited sitio Campesa.
But a resident, Dorofina Silva, 75, confirmed that Joel came to their place, introduced himself as the brother of the mayor.
He told Silva they will be cutting the trees as these were an eyesore.
Remejia Bahi, another resident, said Joel arrived in their place when the cutting of the trees was done.
On the other hand, barangay councilor Antonio Jaberina, chairman of committee on education, said he sent a request to the Mayor’s Office for the cutting of trees in the school premises as these were posing danger on the students.
Days after, he was only informed that personnel from the mayor’s office came to cut the trees including those outside the school premises.
Jaberina admitted that he failed to get a permit, thinking it is the duty of the city hall to get one.
The mayor, on the other hand, said he just acted on the request thinking the barangay officials already got a permit.
De los Reyes denied any hand in the cutting of the trees outside the school premises.
Marciano Silva, a staff of the mayor, said he was sent to Campensa to cut the trees with Leklek Arana and Eugene Arana, also staff of the mayor’s office.
Jaberina said that some logs were brought by Eugene’s office and this was confirmed when reporters visited his office.
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