Cebu City told to provide fiscal footage of trees’ disappearance

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government is now required to furnish the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 copy of the closed circuit television  footage that will shed light on the controversial “disappearance” of 80 grown trees located in the center island of Serging Osmeña Avenue.

The Office of the City Prosecutor ordered Community Environment and Natural Resources Cebu City OIC Anastacio Cabalejo to appear at 3 p.m. on July 24 for a clarificatory investigation.

“Please bring the CCTV copy as alleged in the affidavit,” read a note in bold letters at the end of the subpoena signed by Prosecutor II Rogelio Del Prado, Jr.

City Hall earlier refused to provide a copy of the footage when DENR requested for it. It requested DENR to secure first a court order as part of protocol the Cebu City Command Center observes.

City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who heads the command center, earlier stressed that casual release of the CCTV footage may jeopardize the security of the city, as the location of the spy cameras must remain undisclosed.

DENR-7 was glad of the favorable development, as it would help the agency in its case against officials of WT Construction on the loss of the trees.

WT is the contractor doing the Serging Osmeña Avenue road widening project.

“This is a welcome development, as it indicates the case or complaint we filed against WT Construction Inc. is moving. We convened with our lawyers to discuss our actions or steps, including our personnel from CENRO Cebu City. We certainly want to see a situation where (the) trees that went missing will be accorded with the same amount of justice and dignity,” said DENR-7 Spokesperson Eddie Llamedo.

“We trust in the wisdom of the Cebu City Government that what (footage) they are going to provide us is an authentic (copy) or genuine one,” he added.

In an interview yesterday, Tumulak said they are willing to comply with the order, but only after Mayor Michael Rama gets a copy.

City Councilor Nida Cabrera, City Council committee on environment chairperson also expressed gladness that there is already a development in the case.

The trees, whose disappearance last April was brought to the City Council’s attention by Cabrera, were allegedly removed  by WT workers without DENR and City Parks and Playground Commission permission.— (FREEMAN)