Graft complaint filed vs MGB official

MANILA, Philippines - The Region 10 director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is facing graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Wolfland Resources Inc. (WRI) filed the case last Aug. 11 against MGB director Dario Miñoza for alleged violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

WRI is a mining firm with an exploratory permit covering 761 hectares in Iligan City and is under the jurisdiction of MGB-Region 10.

WRI accused Miñoza of allegedly using his position to pressure WRI director Anders West to assign a portion of WRI’s exploration area to Miñoza’s friend, processing and registering with undue haste an alleged spurious deed of assignment in favor of the latter for a portion of the area assigned to WRI; taking undue and unwarranted interest in WRI’s exploration permit; and displaying conduct unbecoming of a public official.

WRI said it has earmarked $50 million for the exploration and development of its assigned area.

However, it said this venture is now in danger with Miñoza’s alleged failure to protect the investment by honoring and respecting its exploration permit.

WRI alleged that Miñoza pressured West to consent to another party’s small-scale mining within its permitted area, with an alleged “categorical threat” that WRI may lose the whole area covered by its exploratory permit if it would not agree.