Forget the spin

Does anybody believe all these lies being peddled as to why the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) election scheduled for August 8 should be postponed for two years.

Government is saying that synchronizing the ARMM election with the 2013 midterm elections and appointing officers-in-charge are needed to stabilize the peace and order situation in the area, that postponing would allow more time to unravel the sophisticated election fraud machinery in ARMM and for the Commission on Audit to conduct a thorough audit of funds given to ARMM over the years, that holding the election at this time would only distract from the ongoing peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and finally, that it would save the government P1.8 billion.

What we’re not being told is that the postponement of would allow President Aquino to appoint his own people, presumably from the ruling party, to key positions in the regional body.

These appointees would wield vast political power over five provinces and two cities without a valid mandate from the electorate, not to mention the resources, enough to seal the 2013 and 2016 election results?

Peace and democracy in ARMM can best be served by pushing through with the election, with enough safeguards, including cleansing of spurious voters’ lists, deploying enough military and police personnel in ARMM during the campaign period, and automating the election from start to finish to prevent any manipulation of the voting results.

Senators Bongbong Marcos, Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Edgardo Angara and Chiz Escudero deserve credit and encouragement for opposing the proposed ARMM poll postponement.

Inflation the BSP way

Revelations made by lawyer Harry Roque about the enormous benefits and perks, and the lavish expenditures of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) officials as shown by COA reports from the years 2008 and 2009 should be looked into seriously.

It is said that in these two years alone, BSP paid its officials and employees P10 billion. In the same period, one official had unspecified expenses of P834 million and that he paid consultants P182 million.

Sources also revealed that this official crafted a retirement plan for himself and his allies, allocating a budget of P1.2 billion a year for this purpose, so that upon retirement, the he would receives a pabaon of at least P50 million.

The COA report also showed that this official spent P534 million just for travel expenses.

One lady director, for the past 16 months alone, traveled 12 times. This lady is reportedly given the same benefits, perks and privileges as a Monetary Board member.

Mining woes

Just recently, we wrote about how the Office of the President allegedly acted without authority and resorted to procedural shortcuts when it revoked Narra Nickel Mining’s application for a financial technical assistance agreement (AFTA), issued a cease and desist order against Narra’s exploration activities, and gave due course to the exploration permit application of Redmont Consolidated Mines in the same area covered by Narra’s FTAA.

The OP treated Redmont’s petition before it for the revocation of Narra’s FTAA as an appeal from the memorandum of the DENR Secretary recommending approval of Narra’s FTAA.

Narra filed a motion to dismiss but instead of acting on it, the OP cancelled Narra’s AFTA. Under the rules, if the motion is denied, Narra should have been given an opportunity to file an answer or other responsive pleading. The OP also admitted Redmont’s supplemental pleading without giving Narra a chance to oppose it.

Sources explained that there is no law that gives the OP jurisdiction over the matter. In its decision, the OP merely quoted from a dissenting opinion in the the La Bugal B’laan case giving it authority to cancel FTAAs.

The OP’s decision also went beyond the relief prayed for by Redmont when it issued the CDO, whose issuance will result in the execution of the decision even if Narra has the right to appeal the same. This will render Narra Nickel’s right to appeal nugatory.

They stressed that the OP decision cannot be final and executory since Narra has filed an MR. A ranking DENR official also pointed out that Narra still has the right to continue exploration activities until all lawful remedies have been exhausted.

We learned that if the Executive Secretary sticks with his decision, then Narra will have no choice but to appeal the case all the way to the SC if needed.

Test of political will

Last month the DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), assisted by the PNP, AFP, and local and barangay officials of Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur closed down the alleged illegal mining activities of Lupa Pigegetawan Mining Company (LUPA).

Bayog town is said to be rich in iron ore and gold deposits.

Operatives said LUPA continued with its mining operation despite a CDO prompting tthe lightning raid. The DENR issued the CDO after LUPA was found to be operating without an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), a certificate of precondition and accompanying consents from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and a registered mining claim from the MGB.

The firm was also found to have encroached on numerous mining claims, to have failed to secure a business permit from the Office of the Mayor and a small-scale mining permit from the Office of the Provincial Governor. It also failed to pay the proper taxes.

LUPA has also accused of committing human rights violations on local residents through its security group called AY-76.

While the illegal operation at Lupa Pigegetawan has completely stopped, the situation remains tense due to the presence of masked individuals patrolling the area, prompting the setting up various multi-partite monitoring groups.

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