By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A citizens anti-graft and corruption group has lodged a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas against officials of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over the controversial cutting of trees along Araneta Street beside the old airport in Barangay Singcang- Airport, Bacolod City.

The complaint, addressed to Paul Elmer Clemente, deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, was filed on May 14 by Crusaders for Justice founder and president Dominador Villaluna Jr. against Engr. Jaime Javellana, district engineer of DPWH-Bacolod City and Engr. Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, community environment and natural resources officer of DENR.

Javellana and Gerangaya are facing charges for grave misconduct; gross ignorance of the law; grave abuse of authority; and violation of Republic Act 3571 or An Act to Prohibit the Cutting, Destroying or Injuring of Planted or Growing Trees, Flowering Plants and Shrubs or Plants of Scenic Value Along Public Roads, in Plazas, Parks, School Premises or in Any Other Public Pleasure Ground, and Presidential Decree 705 or the Revised Forestry Code.

The complaint stemmed from the controversial cutting by the DPWH of 35 decades-old trees along the national highway in Araneta Street to give way to a sidewalk project.

The cutting of the trees was criticized by environmental advocates and local residents.

The growing criticism later led to the DENR calling off the planned cutting of trees along the old airport.

Javellana said his office received a letter from Bacolod City Representative Greg Gasataya and DPWH Region 6 asking them to stop cutting down the trees.

He explained that the DENR issued a permit authorizing them to cut 35 trees in the area./DGB, WDJ