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Clerk court, fiscal flee after filing raps against judge

BAGUIO CITY (June 30) — A Clerk of Court and a Fiscal has fled from their work in Quirino province after filing charges against their executive judge whom they rapped for corruption, immorality and violations of judicial code of conduct.

Claiming they are now being hunted by paid killers, lawyers Jessie W. Tuldague, Clerk of Court VI of Regional Trial Court of Quirino and Alfredo Balajo Jr., 2nd Assistant Provincial Prosecutor also of Quirino province rapped Regional Executive Judge Moises M. Pardo of RTC Branches 31 and 32.

The two lawyers claim in their administrative complaint before the Supreme Court that Pardo is “corrupt, immoral and has violated the judicial code of conduct.

The Supreme Court received the case on June 14, 2005. The lawyers’ 56-page complaint complete with supporting documents charged Judge Pardo of “corruption by demanding money or land from court litigants and for sharing in the released cash bond of accused in criminal cases.”

The lawyer-complainants claim that Pardo has a plot to silence them including several other court employees. They are now seeking the National Bureau of Investigation for protection.

Judge Pardo is also reportedly bias and oppressive to court employees who are not loyal and close to him.

Efforts to contact Pardo for his comment remains futile as of presstime # Artemio A. Dumlao for NORDIS

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Foreign mining firms to invest $1.9B in RP

BAGUIO CITY (July 1) — Foreign mining companies pledged $1.9 billion Philippine investments, with the groundwork for three $229 million mining projects in Luzon and Mindanao already in the pipeline. This was announced by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Michael Defensor during the International Mining Investment Conference held in Manila recently.

Similarly, another $300 million in investments were committed via 29 memoranda of understanding and letters of intent. An earlier mining road show in China accounted for the bulk of the investments in the pipeline worth $1.6 billion.

Defensor said the DENR has succeeded in inviting foreign mining companies to invest in the country, citing examples of construction which have commenced namely, the $180 million Palawan Nickel Project of the Coral Bay Mining Corp.; the $42 million Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project of Lafayette Phils. in Albay; and the $7 million Canatuan Gold Expansion Project of TVI Resources Development Phils. in Zamboanga del Norte. Defensor added that the projects could employ some 2,000 workers during their construction and another 1,000 when commercial operations start.

Meanwhile, mining companies are taking Philippine mining potentials more seriously with several of them keen on accelerating their mining exploration and production projects.

Tony Robbins, Managing Director of Indophil Resources, an Australian Stock Exchange-listed mining company, and who heads the Philippine Exploration Association said that Australian mining companies are now more upbeat about the local mining industry after the landmark decision by the Supreme Court allowing 100% foreign ownership of mining projects. Robbins’ company, which has been operating in the Philippines for more than five years, partnered with local mining firm Sagittarius Mines chaired by Paul Dominguez for the $650 million Tampakan Copper Project in Tampakan, South Cotabato. Other local investors include Alsons Development Corp. and Lyon Selection.# via NORDIS

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SMC contributes to job creation in Abra

BANGUED, Abra (July 2) — The San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is assisting the Abra Provincial Agriculturist Office (OPAG) in its cassava plantation. A Memorandum of Agreement between the SMC and the proponents was signed recently.

The project involves the cultivation of a 35-hectare potential land in Abra’s upland municipality of Sallapadan. SMC will provide initial funding for the cultivation and maintenance and later on the marketing of the products.

Another area in the municipality of San Isidro with an estimate of 200 hectares is also being negotiated for a similar project undertaking. Both projects hope to employ more than a thousand labor force in the communities when project operation goes full blast.

In an interview with OPAG Training and Information Officer, Ms. Linda Burton and Ms. Flora Barbero, Coordinator for Agri- business and Cash Crops Production, they informed the public of the double efforts of OPAG in implementing their regular programs particularly in support services delivery to enhance the productivity of Abra farmers in coffee and banana in the upland towns by providing technical assistance and infrastructure facilities.

The signatories include the LGU of Sallapadan represented by Mayor Garde Cardenas, the president of the Subusob Farmers Association as the proponent, Mr. Cresencio Adriatico of the OPAG and the representative of SMC. # Maritess Benas/ PIA Abra

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LTFRB ok’s fare hike

BANGUED, Abra (July 2) — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has directed the implementation of fare increase for public utility buses and jeepneys. But according to the local Land Transportation Officer here, transport operators cannot impose it yet because of lack of a fare matrix from the LTFRB Regional Office.

Eusebio Bidalen, Abra assistant LTO chief said that while fare matrix is not yet available, drivers of all passenger vehicles cannot charge increased fare. The fare matrix is the official document where the proper fare charges are indicated and to be posted in every passenger vehicle.

The local LTO however assured that LTFRB is preparing at the moment the needed fare matrix for Abra and will be available in the coming days. A fee of P500 will be charged to every franchise to avail of a copy.

Upon the implementation, P2.50 will be added to the present minimum fare of P5 for the first five kilometers. P1 is charged for every kilometer thereafter.

Bidaden reminded transport operators to never use fake fare matrix to avoid penalty. # FB Asia / PIA-Abra

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MP to pursue clean and green program

BONTOC, Mt. Province (July 2)— The provincial government here is determined to pursue the Clean and Green program despite an advise from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Central office to temporary suspend its implementation due to lack of fund.

DILG Provincial Director Robert Mangangey, chairman of the Clean and Green program or the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran in the province said his office received a fax message from BLGS Director Rolando Acosta informing DILG offices and LGUs that the implementation of the nationwide clean and green program for this year is temporarily suspended due to lack of funds.

Gov. Maximo Dalog told members of the Clean and Green Awards Committee that while the national government is suspending the nationwide yearly program, it does not necessarily mean that the provincial government will follow suit.

“Our province needs the clean and green program and it’s our belief that we should continue,” stressed Dalog adding that the program is already institutionalized in the provincial government and even in almost all the municipalities in the province.

Director Mangangey disclosed that the municipalities are now appropriating funds for the program and are even ready for the evaluation of their respective clean and green drives. # A. Doga-ong/PIA- MP

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Tabuk police force to be reshuffled

TABUK, Kalinga (July 2) — The reshuffling of the Tabuk police force will soon be enforced to respond to the feedback that they are complacent in enforcing the law. Complacency of law enforcers topped the perceived 12 hindrances why agents of the law could not tame the elusive peace every citizen in Kalinga wants to embrace.

A sub-group of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) want policemen to make a tour of duty around the barangays of Tabuk every quarter of the year to introduce effective means of law enforcement in another environment and engage with new people of different behavior. The PPOC sub-group number four (4) composed of seventeen (17) member agencies, including the PNP approved of this during their meeting last month.

It can be recalled that the same was also recommended during the provincial peace summit held in 2004 to show proof of the might of law and commitment of persons in authority. Participants to the first peace summit observed that local ordinances dealing with the maintenance of peace and order are only partially if not at all enforced by local officials and the police. From the numerous issues outlined during said provincial peace summit, the Police received a lot of whipping aside from other members of the pillars of the criminal justice system. Being the core thrust of the Belac administration, PPOC members were given an ultimatum to do deliver in their respective assignments.

Eleven summit recommendations were also raised to solve the peace and order problems. Top on the list is the conduct of advocacy on social mobilization; strengthening of the bodong; organizational development; enforcement of local peace related ordinances; strengthening of the anti-squatting campaign; provision of livelihood programs; youth development programs; strengthening of the moral recovery program; strengthening of the law enforcement capability and mobility; intensification of the anti-insurgency campaign; and strengthening of the justice system.

During the sub-group meeting, PNP Major Marner Dasayon told the group that since the first peace summit; a lot of improvements on law enforcement were seen as a result of their periodic monitoring. Latest breakthrough of the PNP campaign is the recent capture of Robert Ngayaan Jr., most wanted in Kalinga. Dasayon said they can perform better if given adequate logistical support, skills and manpower. # Peter A. Balocnit / PIA-Kalinga

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