Palparan also tagged in Zambales ‘raid’

MALOLOS CITY – More than two weeks after he allegedly led the “takeover” of a mine site in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, retired Army general Jovito Palparan is now tagged in last Tuesday’s “raid” on another mining firm in Masinloc, Zambales.

Punto Central Luzon, a regional daily newspaper, reported that tension gripped a mining firm in Masinloc when men supposedly of the Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion and the provincial Criminal Investigation and Detection Group forcibly took over the Port of Baloganon last Tuesday.

Men of the 24th IB were allegedly the same ones caught on video with Palparan fleeing from the mine site of Ore Asia Mining and Development Corp. last April 11 when reporters arrived.

Ore Asia has filed charges against Palparan and other respondents for the alleged take­over. Palparan has denied the allegation.

Punto quoted lawyer Condrado Fallorin, legal counsel of Campaña Menera which operates the Port of Baloganon, as saying that the “takeover” was illegal since there was no court order or mission order.

The Consolidated Mining Inc. used to run the port until the Philippine State Investment foreclosed it.

Punto said even Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso was prevented from entering the port, prompting him to issue an ultimatum.

Sources said the Zambales police forcibly entered the port yesterday morning and seized five shotguns from Palparan’s supposed men.

The sources alleged that Palparan – once dubbed as the “Butcher” for the killings of militants during his stint in Northern Luzon – owns the security firm that bagged a contract with a rival company of Campaña Menera.

The STAR has tried to reach Palparan since Tuesday but failed.