A barangay councilman and two others were charged with illegally logging for allegedly cutting mahogany trees in sitio Campensa, barangay Manipis, Talisay City.
The complaint for “cutting, gathering, and/or collecting timber or other products without license” in violation of Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Reforms Code was filed before the Talisay City prosecutor’s office by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Jose Cleo Cary F. Colis.
The complaint named councilman Eduardo Abalo as the one who supervised the cutting; Isidro Silva who transported the logs, and Marciano Silva who cut the trees.
The complaint did not include Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes and his brother, Wilfredo, as well as four others whose names were earlier implicated in the controversy.
Eddie Llamedo, spokesman of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7, said that they were not able to gather strong evidence against the rest.
The complaints were filed based on affidavits of five witnesses.
“If we can get evidence against them, then we will file charges,” he said.
The issue stemmed from a report lodged at the office of City Councilor Antonio Bacaltos by Leo Togonon, president of Agri-based Rural Technology on Hilly Upland Resources.
Togonon reported the illegal cutting of trees in the watershed and that he could identify three persons directly involved.
The other day, the mayor went to the DENR office and explained his side.
He said the director of the DENR believed him when he denied knowledge or involvement in the incident.
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