NBI helps DENR in investigation of missing trees

CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation  has officially stepped in on the ongoing probe that aimed to locate missing trees amid a road rehabilitation project and possibly pin down the culprits.

The coordination meeting between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources  and the NBI yesterday afternoon transpired inside DENR-7 conference room.

“Basically, the meeting was to affirm NBI’s support sa investigation. Although naa’y mga details nga dili pa namo ma-divulge since the case has already been filed and also not to jeo-pardize the ongoing investigation. Certainly, they (NBI) are helping us,” said DENR-7 regional spokesperson Eddie Llamedo.

The DENR official described the meeting to have been “positive” and the two NBI personnel who attended as “cooperative” and “very supportive.”

A joint investigation is the direction of both agencies’ partnership, Llamedo added.

Attending the meeting on behalf of NBI Central Visayas were special investigator III lawyer Teodoro Saavedra and agent lawyer Donver Inesin.

Those from the environment agency were led by Regional Executive Director  Isabelo Montejo together with CENRO Cebu City chief Anastacio Cabalejo, CENRO Cebu City Forest Management Section chief Raul Pasoc, forester Filemon Embalzado Jr., DENR legal officers lawyer Rolando Luego and lawyer Philline Rosamae Reluya Yu, and Llamedo.

Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Cebu City office is set to provide NBI today pertinent information vital to their ongoing data gathering that will help fortify the case already filed against the suspected culprits of the 88 missing full grown trees.

NBI has also started coordinating with the Cebu City Government whose closed circuit television was said to have captured the removal of the trees last March.

The CCTV footage was accordingly able to identify that it was the contractor’s vehicle that transported the removed trees from the project site to a location still unknown to both the city government and the DENR.

But the city government refused to furnish DENR a copy of the CCTV for security reasons, but vowed that they will heed should a court order be issued.

A future discussion with both Montejo and NBI Regional Director Max Salvador is being contemplated, according to Llamedo. Another coordination meeting will happen next week.

On  April 15, DENR filed a case against seven officials of WT Construction, which handles the road rehabilitation project along S. Osmena Boulevard, where the trees mysteriously went missing despite only being given earthballing permit from DENR. By earthballing, the uprooted trees were to be transferred to a location with direct supervision of environment officers.

Those charged for violating section 3 of Presidential Decree Number 953 were WT President Irene U. Te, Vice President Willy U. Te, Secretary Julie U. Te, Treasurer Juanita Y. Te, project-in-charge Adolfo Quiroga, Mary Grace Y. Te and Mary Joy Y. Te.  (FREEMAN)