BUGUEY, Cagayan – Fresh from his 60-day preventive suspension, a controversial mayor of this town known for his anti-mining stand has been suspended anew for six months by the provincial board.
In a 6-4 vote, the board meted last week the six-month suspension on Buguey Mayor Ignacio Taruc, who had just served his two-month preventive suspension in connection with administrative charges filed against him by an employee of the office of Vice Mayor Licerio Antiporda III.
Taruc, who had just finished his two-month suspension by the provincial board, was greeted with cheers and accolades during an environment forum in Isabela province, on May 15 where he likewise brought out the problem concerning black sand mining in his town.
Taruc’s new suspension once again set off waves of protests by his supporters before the municipal hall of the marine and black sand rich northeastern Cagayan coastal town.
Taruc’s successive suspension was made ostensibly in connection with a series of administrative cases filed by the vice mayor’s office allegedly for “grave misconduct, oppression and grave abuse of authority.”
But Taruc’s supporters and other anti-mining activists believe that his suspension was due to his vehement opposition to the provincial government-sanctioned black sand or magnetite mining in his town.
Taruc, a fierce anti-mining advocate, and Gov. Alvaro Antonio, who is supporting the mining project, have been at loggerheads over mining activities in Buguey.
Suspension order
Last month, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza suspended the operations of Buguey’s black sand mining for operating within the 200-meter shoreline which, he said, is a violation of environmental laws.
Taruc directly accused the powerful Enrile family here, headed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, a native of neighboring Gonzaga town as having a hand in his suspension.
The Enriles could not be immediately reached for comment.
However, Vice Gov. Leonides Fausto, who presides over the board which suspended Taruc, denied the Enriles’ role or any influence in the mayor’s suspension.
“We were fair in the ruling. This could be seen in the voting, that’s why there is no truth to the charges of the Enriles’ being behind Mayor Taruc’s suspension,” he said.
Taruc said his suspension was “another move by the Capitol and the Enriles to oppress me after I refused to give permission to the operation of mining in my town.” -- CL
Ignacio Taruc, Jr. is a hypocrite. He had this anti-mining stance only after the governor of Cagayan approved the small-scale mining permit of his opponents and disapproved that of his allies mining application permit. I know for a fact that he supported the extraction of black sand at first because I was present at the governor's office at the time he interceded personally before Governor Antonio for the issuance of a mining permit to his allies in Paddaya Este, Buguey, Cagayan.
ReplyDeleteJuan dela Cruz
huwag lang ang about sa black sand ang dapat na bigyan ng atensiyon kundi about pa sa illegal na pangisda. ang tinatawag na buli-buli. at marami pang mga illegal na pagkakakitaan ng mga namumuno ng buong buguey. marami ang mga mahihirap na kababayan ang nagdurusa ng dahil sa paghawak ng mga pulitikong gaham sa pera. we needs help from the palassyo ng malacaniang. please do something and to close the illegal fishing and ect.
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