BAGUIO City Mayor Benjie Magalong conducted a surprise inspection on Wednesday, July 24, at a private lot along Legarda Road and confirmed suspected deliberate tree murder.
"If you look at it, 45 trees are basically murdered," said Magalong.
Magalong personally investigated the property allegedly owned by Jasper Golango and found 45 fully grown trees were intentionally and slowly being killed after seeing holes drilled at the base of each tree where a salt-like mixture was administered, believed to lead to the death of the trees.
"These are not natural holes, these are drilled hollow and will most likely be filled with chemicals," he added.
Magalong tagged the act as murder and vowed to personally file charges against developers.
The mayor has advocated for the preservation of the environment in the city and has included this in his 10 point agenda which won him the city's top seat during the midterm election in May.
The matter was brought to the attention of the mayor by the Cepmo and is now being handled by the City Legal Office.
