MANILA, Philippines - Laguna Lake Development Authority general manager Rodrigo Cabrera under whose watch President Aquino aborted the P18.5-billion dredging project in 2010 has finally resigned, and will be replaced by environment czar Neric Acosta, a Palace official said yesterday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the resignation was accepted on Aug. 17, but she was unaware of the circumstances why Cabrera – whom Aquino directed in November 2010 to explain why dredging was still a go despite his instruction to the contrary – had resigned from his post.
“I do not know. The office of the Executive Secretary did not tell us, did not say anything as to the reasons of Mr. Cabrera why he tendered his resignation,” she told Palace reporters in an informal briefing.
According to her, Acosta was designated as acting member of the board of the LLDA, apart from his appointment as presidential adviser on environment protection, where he will serve in a concurrent capacity.
Two sources revealed two weeks ago that Aquino had them called to a meeting about the aborted LLDA dredging project, apparently as an offshoot of Cabrera’s resignation.
Complementary tasks
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Demetrio Ignacio said he doesn’t see any conflict in Acosta’s appointment.
“I don’t see any duplication of work here. Mr. Acosta’s function as an adviser is different from the DENR which acts as an implementor,” Ignacio said, adding that the tasks are even complementary.
“There will be coordination, and more inputs on a particular environmental project or issue can be generated,” Ignacio said.
Taguig City Rep. Sigfrido Tinga also commended the appointment of Acosta to the LLDA.
“I’m not saying his (Acosta) predecessors are not good but Nereus is a very good choice,” Tinga said.
Under DENR
While LLDA is a government-owned and controlled corporation, it is under the DENR.
Valte said the LLDA will “nominate and elect their own general manager and likewise elect their own chairman.”
Valte said Acosta’s appointment as presidential adviser came ahead of the LLDA post.
“I think it also falls into his work. Remember he was being asked about what his functions would be, and it goes mainly into environmental protection, so at least he can sit on the (LLDA) board,” she said.
Extortion allegations
Cabrera, engineering division chief Donato Rivera Jr. and lake management division head Jacqueline Dabu were earlier told by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to explain why they should not face administrative disciplinary proceedings following allegations of extortion.
The extortion charges were lodged by fishpen owner Dr. Charlie Tan before the ombudsman, who said the three tried to extort P300,000 from him “in exchange for the approval of his request to transfer the location of his fishpens.”
In June, Cabrera took a 60-day leave from office in order to give the Office of the President “a free hand in the conduct of a fair and unprejudiced investigation.”
But Valte said she doesn’t know if charges have indeed been filed against Cabrera. – With Rhodina Villanueva, Paolo Romero