Gakit denies withholding Balili papers

CEBU, Philippines - One of the Provincial Board members sued for alleged refusal to furnish environmentalists with the copies of the pertinent documents concerning the purchase of the controversial Balili property and its intended use denied that they ignored the request of lawyers Gloria Ramos and Benjamin Cabrido.

Provincial Board Member Wenceslao Gakit said the secretary of the board Anecita Pasaylo explained to Ramos and Cabrido why the PB members did not give the documents they requested.

Gakit showed reporters Pasaylo’s letter to Ramos and Cabrido dated August 18 explaining why Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. and the PB members did not furnish them copies of the documents.

Pasaylo cited three reasons; first, the PB is not the custodian of the documents; second, the Office of the Governor has already announced its willingness to furnish the environmentalists copies of the documents and third, legislators are exempted from the coverage of the Republic Act 9485 otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Law.

Section 3 of the RA 9485 provides that “This Act shall apply to all government offices and agencies including local government units and government-owned and controlled corporations that provide frontline services as defined in this Act. Those performing judicial, quasi-judicial and legislative functions are excluded from the coverage of this Act.”

Ramos and Cabrido earlier filed two counts of criminal complaints for violation of the Anti-Red Tape Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees against Governor Gwen Garcia, Sanchez and all PB members except Agnes Magpale.

PB members Gakit, Julian Daan, Juan Bolo, Wilfredo Caminero, Peter John Calderon, Victoria Corominas, Ian Zambo, Joven Mondigo, Jr., Rosemarie Durano, Victor Maambong, Bea Mercede Calderon, Teresita Celis and Alfred Francis Ouano allegedly violated RA 9485 and RA 6713 for refusing to give copies of the documents pertaining to the Balili transaction.

The complainants, who are active in their advocacy for environmental protection, said that when they heard Garcia announce early last July that she entered on behalf of Cebu Province a memorandum of agreement with the Korean Electric Corporation to host a dumpsite for hazardous coal ash from the company in the Balili property in Naga recently bought by the province, they immediately requested documents.

Ramos and Cabrido said they sent a letter request on July 2 asking Garcia and all PB members for a copy of the MOA entered by the province with KEPCO and whether there was already an Environmental Compliance Certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. –Fred P. Languido/BRP (THE FREEMAN)