Hush-hush transactions

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March Fianza

           

On October 27, 2010; The Tadiangan-Nangalisan Hydro Ancestral Landowners Association (TNHALA) led by civic leader and businessman Roger D. Sinot and BSU Professor Olga Cagas Dangwa, along with the city under Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan struck a compromise agreement over the use of the latter of lands traversed by plume lines and gated water tanks for the operation of the mothballed Asin Hydro Electric Plant in Tuba, Benguet.

The agreement was the result of negotiations, exchange of communications, lengthy discussions, disagreements and differences over unpaid payments for the use of ancestral lands by the hydro facilities since it was constructed by Engr. EJ Halsema who was then Baguio mayor and concurrent Benguet District Engineer from 1920-37. 

Four years after the compromise agreement was approved by Regional Trial Court, Branch 3 on April 19, 2011; five years since it was signed by Mayor Domogan; and eight long years since the city should have started paying its rent to the TNHALA, an organization of at least 200 members, not a single centavo was paid.

Mayor Domogan knows that a number of family members of the TNHALA have passed on due to old age or illness, expecting to receive benefits and privileges stipulated in the compromise agreement that are long overdue. After a long wait, nothing came.

Nothing came out of the blood, sweat and tears of members of the TNHALA who religiously attended meetings, discussions, dialogues and even court hearings. Meanwhile, other alleged claimants just stayed on the side and waited if anything came out of the compromise agreement.

Recently, another group who call themselves the Poblacion, Tadiangan, Nangalisan Community Landowners Association (PTNCLA) had a meeting with the city council. Apparently, the city councilors cannot just throw them out of the hall, and were in fact confused with the presence of the group who also claimed to be members of TNHALA.

Prior to the compromise agreement, the city sued the officers of TNHALA for economic sabotage for diverting the water away from the plume lines that allegedly rendered the Asin Hydro plants inoperational, for grave coercion, and violation of the water code. These cases were dismissed by the Prosecutors Office of Benguet and the Regional Prosecutors Office in La Union.

All these times, members and leaders of the new group PTNCLA never offered help, contributed time, effort and money when the TNHALA officers were being sued in court and exerting personal resources for the 200-member association.

To make the agreement more valid, the city surveyed the lands of the affected claimants who in turn submitted tax declarations and proofs of occupancy over their lands. The surveyor sent by the city reported that “not all land claims of listed TNHALA members” are affected by the plume lines and facilities of the Asin Hydro plants.

As of date, some P2.6 M in terms of cash payments to land owners, other benefits and privileges as stipulated in the compromise agreement was computed as long overdue obligations to be received by the affected landowners.

At least two members of the PTNCLA who appeared to be the speakers of the group told the city council that they knew nothing about the compromise agreement but in contrast to that claim, they knew of a collection of money worth P2.6 M.

As things appear, it is the money collection that has attracted other landowners to organize. Apparently, personalities in the community who have secret interests made use of the gullible residents and urged them to organize in order to receive shares from the expected payment.Hush-hush deal.

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On countless instances, when government is stuck in its own actions, it seeks resolutions by resorting to arrangements, whether hush-hush or open. Some deals work out right but in some cases, situations get worse and both parties are mired in a protracted battle with no solution in sight.

A case in point was when a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo filed last week a criminal complaint before the Department of Justice against members of the INC's Sanggunian for alleged threats, coercion, and for harassing and illegally detaining him and his family.

INC alleged that Justice Sec. Leila De Lima was behind the complaint of Isaias Samson Jr., Editor-in-Chief of Pasugo, INC’s official publication, who was previously expelled by the church.

The group’s claim about Sec. de Lima's alleged intrusion in the internal affairs of INC was one reason behind the five-day protest at EDSA. Apparently, this forced Malacanang to entertain a dialogue with INC leaders due to the enormous traffic and undue disturbance it was causing the public and businesses that had to close and sacrifice revenues.

On their protest tarpaulins, the group printed allegations of a violation of the “separation of the church and state”. How was it so? It is a criminal case against INC leaders, not against the Church. 

There is no denying the fact that politicians court the INC that is known to be a solid voting bloc composed of more than two million. This is why Malacanang had to bow down to the INC’s wishes. This, aside from previous endorsements for employment in government, projects and other favors that officials gave way to.

The INC started their protest action in front of the DOJ compound before moving to EDSA. The group voluntarily dispersed on the fifth day of protest on Monday, ending the protest action after their leaders met with Malacanang officials.

Both sides denied that arrangements were made during the meeting. If so, what was the meeting for? It is anybody’s guess that the INC leaders could have demanded for De Lima’s resignation and for the illegal detention charges to be dismissed.

If not, then Malacanang has a lot of explaining to do. It has to be transparent to allay fears that Malacanang does not bow down to the influence of any religion group. It has to make it clear that Samson's criminal complaint will not be dismissed as a result of the meeting between the INC and the government.

Although, there were doubts about the INC leaders’ influence to mobilize their followers as it was noticed that the number of protesters from Manila were augmented by other members who arrived on provincial buses.

This is obviously a sign that a silent majority of followers understand the issues haunting their church and are not blind as to be easily persuaded to join rallies that have political undertones, especially when these involve criminal complaints.

But in fairness, there is no doubt also that the INC membership remains solid when it comes to missions, devotion and respect to the church’s teachings.

On the other hand, both Malacanang and the INC leadership have no other recourse but accept that criminal complaints have to undergo normal court procedures. Unnecessary protests that are perceived to influence secret political deals over personal criminal complaints will only aggravate already dented relations between parties.

Also, secret deals are dangerous as these prolong animosities and can even aggravate resentment previously articulated by some INC members against their leaders.