Critics of DENR chief face House probe

Two critics of Secretary Heherson Alvarez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) could face investigation by the House ethics committee.

Lakas Representatives Prospero Pichay Jr. of Surigao del Sur and Vicente Sandoval of Palawan are the objects of two separate complaints filed with the committee yesterday.

The Mindanao Federation of Small Scale Miners Association accused Pichay of allegedly meddling in the "affairs of Mt. Diwalwal (in Monkayo, Compostela Valley)," where there is widespread small-scale mining, by protecting a big-time miner, Teodoro Bernardino.

Bernardino owns Southeast Gold Mining Corp., which has mining claims in Diwalwal. He also owns Picop Resources Inc., which has a logging license over a wide forested area in Pichay’s home province. Picop’s license is about to expire and is seeking a renewal from the DENR.

The small miners said lawmakers "should not exceed their mandate by representing big interest groups instead of protecting the working people’s interest."

"Congressman Pichay is not for the people but for big miners and loggers like Teodoro Bernardino," they said.

Reacting to the small miners’ complaint, the Surigao congressman denied he is protecting Bernardino, although he admitted that the businessman is his friend.

Pichay said upon President Arroyo’s request, he once helped Local Government Secretary Joey Lina defuse the tension between small miners in Diwalwal and the mayor of Monkayo who was trying to stop the former from further polluting their place.

He claimed that the federation is composed of illegal miners "with whom Alvarez met two days ago."

"He (Alvarez) is behind the complaints against me and Manong Brown (referring to Sandoval)," Pichay said.

Sandoval was accused by a group of fishermen from Balayan, Batangas of conflict of interest for opposing DENR Administrative Order 17, which bans commercial fishing within 15 kilometers from the coastline.

Sandoval allegedly has interests in commercial fishing, an accusation that he has consistently denied.

It was the second complaint against the Palawan congressman. The first was filed by the League of Municipalities a month ago and is based on the same grounds as the one filed yesterday.

Sandoval and Pichay have been opposing the confirmation of Alvarez by the Commission on Appointments. Largely due to their opposition, the commission has bypassed the DENR boss several times.

However, Alvarez, who is Lakas secretary general, expects to be eventually confirmed.

In a previous radio interview, he said at least 18 members of the commission were for confirming him had it not been for the opposition power play in the Senate that led to the abrupt adjournment of the session of Congress last June 4.