Group urges probe on politicians dipping dirty finger to monopolize mining, logging in Caraga Region.
Ben Serrano
Butuan City- Environmental watcgroup Ugnayan sa Kalikasan have urged investigation on some politicians in Caraga Region dipping its dirty finger by allegedly influencing, coddling, bribing sometimes threatening government entities boasting political influence to monopolize mining and logging in today’s top money maker in the region.
The surging of mineral ores trading came into wake following influx of foreign and local ore traders mostly Chinese who tied up with Filipino trader counterpart searching for nickel, copper, chromite and other metallic ores as the demand for local and world markets soar.
The rising prices of gold that reach more than 1,000 per gram have also increase alleged smuggling activities of the precious stone depriving government of millions worth of revenues in alleged connivance with some personnel of some government agencies who are supposedly to implement laws.
Alicia Reyes and Christopher Angayan, Ugnaya Sa kalikasan officials cited discovery of many illegal mini gold processing plants sprouting like mushrooms in different areas in the region which do not only endanger environment due to toxic emissions but also human lives.
The two said they wondered why concerned government agencies failed to detect the existence of the illegal constructed mini ores and gold processing plants in Rosario, Agusan del Sur and some towns in the province, in Agusan del Norte and prominently in Placer, Surigao and some areas in Surigao del Sur.
“They surely do not pay due taxes to the government and this is tantamount to economic sabotage because finish products of gold were undetected where it is sold and where it will go.” Ugnayan officials alleged.
“Yet government officials are sleeping on it and in both ways somebody made money out of it because they continue to proliferate despite pronouncements of government agencies (that) they have acted on it.”
Ugnayan alleged that President Arroyo’s promise to five Caraga bishops who held closed door meeting with her at Almont Inland Resort remained to be seen saying it maybe superficial considering that most Caraga politicians, majority (are) her allies, are dipping its dirty finger to monopolize mining.
Records from the Bureau of Mines and Geo-Sciences Caraga Regional Office showed that Clarence T. Pimentel Construction Company, a mining and construction firm owned by the family of Surigao del Sur Governor Vicente Pimentel Jr. particularly his brother, Clarence owned mining concessions in the province.
The firm tie up with other local and foreign mining firms has pending applications for mineral explorations and Mineral Production Sharing Agreements.
In Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Norte alleged cronies of top government officials were allegedly monopolizing mining concessions whether large and small scale mining in almost all mining areas of the province.
“They say that in Caraga Region, politicians would say that is mine, this mine and all of that is mine is fast becoming a reality with money maker mining industry is slowly being monopolize by greedy politicians, “ Ugnayan in their press statement said.
Last week, in Claver, Surigao del Norte some 1,800 tons of illegally acquired sandy chromite ores were seized by Surigao del Norte Provincial Environment and Monitoring Office personnel from the land allegedly owned by the son of Claver Mayor Eddie Gokiangkee Sr.
Gokiangkee admitted there was no Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) for land turned quarry by his son. The writer tried to reach Gokiangkee to get his side over the allegations that he owned the illegally acquired Chromite ores but to no avail.
