Two persons face raps for allegedly destroying palm trees

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

A day after three persons were arrested for picking sunflowers planted along the access road of the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, two more individuals were caught destroying palm trees at Bakhaw, Mandurriao Tuesday morning.

The two suspected vandals – Alvin Salomeo, 24,of Brgy. 91, Dao, Capiz, and Jeffrey Palma, 24, of Brgy. Padios, Sara, Iloilo – were drunk when they allegedly destroyed the palm trees.

Salomeo and Palma faced a displeased Mayor Jerry Treñas on Wednesday and got a dressing down for their unruly behavior.

“Indi man kamo taga-diri pero ngaa ginaguba niyo diri ang mga tanom sa siyudad nga ginhawa lang naton ka panami sina,” Treñas said.

Treñas said the city government will charge the two destroyers for malicious mischief.

“We are happy nga nadakpan but we are also to a certain extent daw pila na ni ka adlaw last time to tatlo nadakpan subong duha. Ngaaa amo ni ang ila ginapang-ubra?” he lamented.

A palm tree plant costs about P5,000. Recently, the mayor said he personally spent his own money to buy seeds of ornamental plants in the city.

On Monday, Treñas also charged RJ Villegas, 28, and Alexis Nejena, 24, both of Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao district; and Daniel Soropia, 18, of Barangay Divinagracia, La Paz district with malicious mischief for picking the sunflowers in the Diversion area.

“We are doing everything to make sure nga matahom man ang aton siyudad and it is very sad nga may mga tawo amo lang ni ang ginaubra ni,” he furthered.

Meanwhile, the mayor also lauded the green guards who caught the five suspects from Monday to Wednesday.

He said he will consider promoting to regular or permanent posts green guards who continue to perform their duties efficiently.

“We will see kay teh daw manami aton performance kay ang aton offer to kun sige ila dakop sang mga tawo nga amo ni pangitaan ta paagi maregular sila,” he said.