Ombuds case delay ‘emboldens’ mayor vs silica miners

The delay of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas in deciding cases filed by Cebu-based businessmen has emboldened the mayor of Ayungon town in Negros Oriental to go after other Silica mining operators.

Mark Y. Yu of Cebu City, president of Pilipinas Eco-Friendly Mining Corporation (PEMC), and Rodien Paca of Naga City in Cebu, managing director of Logistics and Technological Solutions Inc. (PLTSI) last year filed cases against Ayungon Mayor Edsel Enardecido for robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons, as well as grave misconduct and oppression.

PEMC also filed a case against the mayor’s son, Keith B. Enardecido, who operates a trucking business engaged in hauling silica from the mining operations.

The cases stemmed from an incident on April 7, last year when the trucks of PLTSI, which has a contract with PEMC to quarry and haul silica from the quarry site in Ayungon, were not allowed to enter the Looc Port.

Paca claimed he received a text message from his site manager Elfe Almaro that Mayor Enardecido ordered the port gate padlocked, denying entry of their dump trucks.

There were reports also that Enardecido allegedly demanded incentives from Yu, through text, which the mayor said was the same given from the hauling services of KBE, a corporation owned by his son Keith.

In an article published last year by The FREEMAN, the mayor clarified that the town’s port gate was already opened before the filing of the charges against him at the Ombudsman.

Filed sometime last year, the cases are still pending for preliminary investigation at the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman until now however.

And the delay in deciding these cases is seen by the complainants as having emboldened Mayor Enardecido more to go after mining firms in his town.

On July 26, Mayor Enardecido issued a closure order of Good Yield Resources Development Inc. (GRDI), located at Looc, Tampucon 1, of Ayungon.

Elements of the local police headed by Senior Inspector Romeo Cubo assisted town officials in implementing the closure order allegedly for having no business permit. The GRDI is contesting the closure order.

The closure of Silica mines in Ayungon cuts off the supply of the raw material for at least 10 big cement factories in the country. Silica is an important ingredient in manufacturing cement.

The supply of cement is crucial in implementing the ambitious Build, Build, Build Program of the Duterte administration. Mayor Enardecido however is reportedly allied with the opposition Liberal Party. —