NBI asked to probe ‘anomalous’ charges for transport clearance at Albay Capitol

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is being sought to investigate alleged anomalies on the transport of aggregates quarried at the foot of Mayon Volcano and other parts of the province.

At last Tuesday’s regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP or Provincial Board), Board Member Howard “Phem” Imperial filed a resolution seeking the intervention of the NBI over alleged anomalies in transactions for the clearance needed to transport aggregates quarried from Mt. Mayon.

Imperial, chairman of the Housing and Land Use Committee of the SP, told the Manila Bulletin said he hopes the NBI would conduct the investigation even if his resolution was opposed by the majority in the Provincial Board.

It was learned that the basis for the opposition to the investigation being sought by Imperial was his failure to present a legitimate complainant.

Imperial revealed that the alleged anomaly begins when one transacts to get a booklet used as the record to transport aggregates within Albay or outside the province.

“Under the normal or legal procedure, if one is to apply to transport 5,000 cubic meters of aggregates, the ordinance mandates a payment of P50 per cubic meter. Multiplied by 5,000, one will pay P250,000 at the Treasurer’s Office and be issued a booklet where details of the aggregates being transported are recorded,” the board member explained.

However, Imperial claims that prior to making payment at the Treasurer’s Office, an applicant will allegedly have to transact first at an office at the Provincial Capitol and be billed P7 or P32.

“Ang ‘Taripa ng Gobyerno,’ legal yun, pero hetong nagbabayad ka ng seven pesos o kaya 32 pesos, ang tawag dito ‘Taripa ng Sindikato.’ Iligal ito (A government tariff is legal, but what is being charged for P7 or P32 is a ‘syndicated tariff.’ That’s illegal),”