Cop denies involvement in Camp Apil tree cutting
ROXAS CITY – Chief Insp. Danilo Araquel of the Capiz Police Provincial Office has denied involvement in the cutting of trees inside the premises of the Camp Teodoro Apil in Loctugan, where the CPPO headquarters is located.
“I’m innocent,” Araquel told The News Today, after he was implicated in the cutting of 15 mahogany and gmelina trees estimated to have totaled 2,000 board feet.
Earlier, Senior Supt. Renato Gumban, Capiz police director, revealed that those responsible for the cutting of trees were Araquel and former OIC provincial director, Senior Supt. Mario Millaro.
Araquel has held various positions at the CPPO including head of intelligence, and operation and administration. He is known as crusader against illegal drugs, gambling, and firearms.
However, Araquel was relieved by former Senior Supt. Josephus Angan.
Araquel said that Millaro will soon reveal the story behind the tree-cutting controversy, noting that the cutting of trees has a go-signal from Angan before.
“I was one of the evaluators in the Good Governance and Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran contest among the 16 towns in Capiz during the cutting of those trees,” he clarified.
Araquel said he is set to retire next year that he wants to avoid involvement in the case.
Gumban had warned the culprits of the illegal cutting of trees that they will face a 90-day suspension and demotion.
Araquel said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources allows cutting of trees even without permit when these pose danger in places like barracks.*
