DENR needs footage of missing trees

CEBU, Philippines - The state environment agency is waiting for the copy of the footage captured by the closed circuit television camera of Cebu City government before it files a case in the court against those responsible for the disappearance of 79 trees at a road improvement project near the port area.

A formal letter request addressed to Mayor Michael Rama signed by Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo was sent yesterday.

"(We) would like to respectfully request your good Office to provide us an official copy of the recording or footage from a CCTV with an affidavit to be executed by a command center operator and possibly affidavits also from certain Cebu City Traffic Operations Management personnel who may have witnessed the earth-balling operations," read the letter to the mayor.

The same communication also called for the attention of Councilor Nida Cabrera, who chairs the environment committee, as well as Councilor Dave Tumulak, chief of the City Command Center.

Tumulak earlier revealed to the media that they have captured the actual removal of trees along Serging Osmeña Boulevard.

Rama is amenable to use the CCTV footage taken by C3 to substantiate the complaint of the DENR against WT Construction Inc, the alleged culprit of the "missing" indigenous trees.

The mayor said he is willing to support for the use of the CCTV footage upon the recommendation of Tumulak.

However, Tumulak said he will only recommend if the court would order the city to submit the CCTV footage for perusal.

"Mohatag mi if mo-order ang court. Dili man gud ing-ana kasayon nga mohatag mi kay involve man security. Ang admission sa service provider (WT Construction) enough naman to na evidence. Ngano dili man sila (DENR) mag-conduct ilang kaugalingong investigation?" Tumulak said.

Based on the inventory conducted by DENR-7 forester Felimon Embalzado, Jr. and two others from Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Saturday, 79 trees were confirmed to have been removed and disappeared while 66 others remained standing.

CITOM Executive Director Atty. Rafael Christopher Yap said they are still waiting for the timeline from the CCTV footage for them to check their deployment records and confirm that an enforcer was stationed in the project site when the trees were accordingly removed.

DENR-7 spokesperson Eddie Llamedo said they will make a follow up today with the City Government hoping that they can finally gather the important evidence like affidavits from C3 and CITOM personnel as well as the official copy of the CCTV footage.

On the other hand, Rama said whatever legal actions to be taken by the DENR should not affect the ongoing road rehabilitation project of the Department of Public Works and Highways along S. Osmeña Boulevard.

The rehabilitation project covers a total length of 2.503 kilometers of S. Osmeña Blvd port corridor estimated to cost P289 million.

Likewise, Rama said WT Construction must answer the allegations against them.

"They should be answering. The matter (removal of the trees) has to be in coordination with DENR, Parks and Playground Commission and City Council Committee on Environment. The case should not impede the infrastructure project. The civil works must continue, it should not be stopped," he said. (FREEMAN)