Reyes puts Bulacan governor in her place

AS I SEE ITAs I See It :
First posted 04:15am (Mla time) July 17, 2006
By Neal Cruz
Inquirer

http://news.inq7.net/archive_article/index.php?ver=1&index=1&story_id=10182

Editor's Note: Published on page A14 of the July 17, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE LATEST BATTLE OF BIAK NA BATO IS over. Environment Secretary Angelo T. Reyes ended it by stopping all marble quarry operations at the site of the national park in the municipalities of Doña Remedios Trinidad and San Miguel in Bulacan.

There is some sort of a “gold rush” for miners there, except that they are not mining for gold but for the rare—and therefore very expensive—tea rose marble. It is the curse of Biak na Bato that instead of being made up of ordinary rock, the entire hill is made up of this unique marble that is much in demand in the international market.

Only one operator has a legal quarry license and a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) with the government, but those were canceled by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 1986. The court case involving this cancellation is still pending with the Supreme Court.

There are many small-scale miners operating at the site, however; and they are poaching on the mineral reservation of the one legal license holder, Rosemoor Mining and Development Corp. (RMDC). It seems Bulacan Gov. Josie de la Cruz has made her office another DENR by issuing small-scale quarry permits to her friends.

The events that led to the sudden cessation of quarry operations at Biak na Bato has an ironic, even humorous, twist.

Presenting herself as an environmentalist, the governor waged a high-profile campaign against Rosemoor. She denounced the quarrying of tea rose marble at Biak na Bato as destructive to the environment. Her purpose was to have Rosemoor’s quarry rights to Biak na Bato canceled by the DENR so that her own allies could take over. In doing so, however, she locked horns with the DENR’s Reyes, whom she tried to pressure into canceling Rosemoor’s quarrying rights. She even caused the installation of a giant billboard at the grounds of the Bulacan provincial capitol, recording the number of days that Reyes had let pass without a decision on the quarrying at Biak na Bato. She bit more than she could chew.

Last July 12, Reyes did make a decision—and it shocked De la Cruz. Reyes did suspend the quarrying operations of Rosemoor, as she had urged, but also stopped all quarrying by her friends. Reyes canceled all the small-scale mining permits the office of De la Cruz had issued to quarry operators. They constitute usurpation of authority reserved solely for the DENR, Reyes said in his decision.

De la Cruz’s drumbeaters have been trying to put a positive spin to the DENR decision. “Reyes blinked,” they said, due to the pressure she has been exerting. Hogwash! Reyes’ ruling put De la Cruz in her place.

Now she is not only facing plunder charges filed by Rosemoor but also the prospect of being charged, together with other Bulacan provincial officials, with usurpation of authority for issuing permits only the DENR is authorized by law to issue.

Rosemoor’s license was suspended for deficiencies in the payment of excise taxes, occupation fees and royalties; likewise, for failure to put up measures to prevent air and water pollution; and for failure to present an Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program. The DENR said the operations of Rosemoor would remain suspended until it shall have complied with all the proper housekeeping rules promulgated by the department.

Reyes also ordered the National Anti-Environmental Crime Task Force (NAECTAF), led by Undersecretary Roy Kyamko, to coordinate with the Philippine National Police to ensure full implementation of the DENR order.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) was instructed to immediately make a comprehensive hydrological assessment of the entire area to determine the impact of the quarry operations on the surrounding water bodies.

May I suggest that the Department of Tourism be also called in to develop and promote this historic site into a tourist spot. Cancel all quarry permits at the site permanently, and restore the original boundaries of the Biak na Bato National Park, as proclaimed by President Manuel L. Quezon in 1937. Where it is now, the tea rose marble is more valuable than all the money that can be earned from selling it. You cannot put any price on patrimony.

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If Malacañang factotums could dare try to bribe bishops (who have taken a vow of poverty), imagine what they could do and have been doing to people who are more materialistic and are more susceptible to earthly temptations. No amount of denial by Malacañang’s mouthpieces could make the people believe that there was no such bribery attempt. What? Are they saying that the bishops are liars?

In truth, the policy of this administration is: Every man has his price. That is how Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her minions have been able to hide the truth, evade impeachment, cling to power and usurp position and power—by bribery. Because they have been largely successful in this enterprise, they now have the courage to try it on the men of the cloth. Imagine, Palace officials trying to bribe holy men whose only desire is to fight evil and follow the teachings of Christ. What will they try next?
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