The Crusaders for Justice has filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against the heads of two government agencies for the cutting of decades-old trees at Araneta Street in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, in April, its founder president Dominador Villaluna Jr. said Tuesday, May 18.
The complaint for grave misconduct, grave ignorance of the law and grave abuse of power was filed against District Engineer Jaime Javellana of the Department of Public Works and Highways and Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, head of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office – Bago City.
Villaluna sent the complaint dated May 14 to the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente.
“Hoping that after investigation, your office will file the appropriate case in court,” Villaluna said.
CENRO-Bago City had granted the DPWH a permit to cut 35 Molave, Narra and Mohogany trees to make way for a shoulder paving project.
However, the DPWH stopped the cutting of the trees following an outcry from netizens.
Nine trees were spared from cutting but it was too late for the 26 others.
Gerangaya and Javellana said they acted in accordance with the law.
There is nothing we can do about the complaint filed, at least it will give us the opportunity to answer the allegations in the proper forum, Gerangaya said.
“We followed procedures in accordance with the law, we were just performing our jobs,” Gerangaya said.
Javellana said he had not seen the complaint but assured that the DPWH followed all legal procedures.*