DAET: CamNorte Gov Edgar Tallado of this province yesterday welcomed investigation of illegal mining activities in the towns of Paracale and Jose Panganiban after Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M Robredo ordered him probed.
Robredo had accused Tallado of condoning illegal mining
activities in two mineral-rich towns of Camarines Norte based on complaints
that reached the former’s department and the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR).
“As a fellow public servant, it is just right for Secretary
Robredo to order an investigation on whatever complaints against me. My
conscience is clear and I have nothing to worry about because I have not done
wrong against the people,” the governor said.
Tallado said he has no reason to be onion-skinned about the
complaints against him and that he welcomes the probe because he said he would
be given the chance to clear his name.
He blamed politicians to be behind the move to destroy his
name as the local election nears.
Robredo has ordered the operatives of the Office of Internal
Security of the Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG) and the
DILG Region 5 Director Blandino Maceda to investigate the case against Tallado
as soon as possible.
He said the complaints lodged against Tallado were serious
enough to warrant an immediate investigation.
The complaint about “flagrant violation of environmental
laws” by three mining companies was lodged by Rio G. Paliza, president of
Paracale chapter of the Junior Chamber International Philippines (Philippine
Jaycees), which copies dated June 18 were sent to Robredo, Environment
Secretary Ramon Paje and Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon.
Paliza complained against the operations of the Uni-Dragon
Mining and Development Corp, the Bao Tong Mining Corporation, and Lioaning
Fenghua Group Philippine Mining Company, Inc, which he said have been
inflicting irreparable damage on the environment, particularly the Paracale
shoreline.
He claimed that the three companies were issued Temporary
Small-Scale Mining Permits by Tallado’s office.
Meanwhile, Paliza denied having connection with any
politician in their quest against illegal mining in Camarines Norte.
“It was not Rio
Paliza that Sec Robredo heard,” he said.
“He listened to the combined voices of constituents in
Camarines Norte who were united by one cause. It was the result of the
signature campaign we launched this year. He would say that our accusations
against him are ‘politically motivated.’ ”
Paliza also denied that he himself is aiming for a position
in the local government, saying that he has no political plans whatsoever and
was just moved by the need to protect his own town.
“These mining firms
have been illegally and irresponsibly operating in our town which has caused
damage to some 40 hectares of coral and marine life in Barangay Bagumbayan by
disposing their mud waste directly on our sea that resulted to a waist-deep mud
waste,” Paliza said.
He also said that Philippine Bao Tao Mining Corp. has
continued operation despite the issuance of a cease and desist order in
Sept 5, 2011 by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for violation and
non-compliance to the terms and conditions of its mineral production sharing
agreement.
The other mining firm Liaoning Fenghua Group, Paliza
alleged, is operating on full large-scale mining operations in Paracale
manifested by its use of heavy machineries and equipment although it was only
given a small-scale mining permit.
Meanwhile, MV Peace Angel, the bulk carrier which was held
in position by local fishermen and the SPDM last June 5 while attempting to
load 50,000 metric tons of the illegally mined iron ore in Paracale confiscated
by the MGB and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), remains
anchored on the shore of Pulangdaga due to the power of a cease and desist
order against its crew until authorities
have dealt with the issues
regarding the legality of the mining operations there. – Bicol Mail
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