Gov’s suspension pushed over black sand mining

By Jennelyn Mondejar

DAGUPAN CITY -- Community leaders from Pangasinan will troop today November  5, to Quezon City to ask the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend Gov. Amado Espino over the issue of massive black sand mining operations in the province.

Aside from the prayer for suspension, the local leaders, belonging to the group Aromas, will also file a complaint to oppose the massive destruction of environment allegedly due to the mining and quarrying operations all over Pangasinan.

The group also alleged the continuing harassment of its leaders by the mining operators in the province.

Before the filing of the complaints, a Halloween-inspired protest will be held outside the Office of the Ombudsman to symbolically show the aftermath of the black sand mining to the people of Pangasinan.

According to the protesters, Governor Espino will be depicted in an ‘undertaker’ costume in Halloween masks holding shovel digging black sand.

Some of the protesters will also wear masks and Halloween costumes.

The group said it will also hold a protest march against black sand mining on Nov. 21 from their province going to Manila in time for International Fish Day.

The group filed last year administrative cases of abuse of authority, violation of local government code and graft and corruption charges against Espino also in the Office of the Ombudsman.