The Stealing of Rosewood from Santa Teresa Village, Toledo
Pablo Max
There is an allegation against a police officer coming out of the Toledo District tonight. Residents from the Santa Teresa Village claim that the officer has stolen rosewood from its area. According to the Pablo Max, the Chairperson of the Quiche Ha Community-based Enterprise that manages the forest products in the village, a team was set up to intercept the officer from escaping with the precious hardwood, but the cop outmanoeuvred the villagers, including first Alcalde Mateo Salam, who spoke to our friends at PGTV.
Pablo Max, Chairperson, Quiche Ha Community-based Enterprise
“A police officer was involved in getting into our area. We are saying that he was stealing rosewood from our area without our permission. He gone there yesterday and…”
Wil Maheia
“So you are saying that this police officer came to your village and stole some rosewood. How do you know that he stole these rosewood?”
Pablo Max
“Actually he went there yesterday at six p.m. and overnight he was there. At four p.m., we set a team at the road side and when he came out at four-thirty a.m. this morning, the whole team was there at the roadside and we tried to stop this guy and he just sped off. A cycle tried to race him back but there was a lot of dust and we couldn’t catch this guy.”
Mateo Salam
Mateo Salam, 1st Alcalde, Santa Teresa Village
“Just yesterday, the contractors went into our village from the area which part we are getting rosewood. We just see that he went yesterday evening so we organized ourselves as Alcalde, deputy Alcalde and my village police and the rest of our members. We get together and we get to know that rosewood are coming out.”
Earlier today, the Police Department said that it had no such report of an officer involved incident, but will be looking into the allegation.
