3 LLDA execs told to answer extort raps

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang yesterday ordered three officials of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to explain the extortion allegations against them by a fishpen owner.           

The show cause order was imposed on LLDA general manager Rodrigo Cabrera, engineering division chief Donato Rivera Jr. and lake management division head Jacqueline Dabu to give them a chance to explain why they should not face administrative disciplinary proceedings.                             

Fishpen owner Charlie Tan has alleged that the three tried to extort P300,000 from him in exchange for the approval of his request for a news location for his fishpens.         

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, a lawyer by profession, said the alleged extortion, if proven, would be a violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713). The three officials were given five days from the receipt of the show cause order to submit their comment to Ochoa’s office.

 The Office of the President exercises jurisdiction over Cabrera, who is an appointee of the president.                       

While Rivera and Dabu were not appointed by the president, they were covered by the order for allegedly conspiring with Cabrera.                                                                                              

Last week, Cabrera took a 60-day leave from office to give the Office of the President “a free hand in the conduct of a fair and unprejudiced investigation.”

Task force dismantles fish cages in Batangas

Meanwhile, at least 17 out of 1,300 illegal fish cages were demolished by the Taal Lake Task Force in four towns in Batangas yesterday morning.

Vicente Tomazar, Chairman of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 4A, (RDRRMC), said the Task Force has stepped up its operation in Laurel, Talisay, San Nicolas, and Agoncillo.

Tomazar said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) deployed two patrol boats and 16 personnel to assist in the dismantling operation, while the Bureau of Soil and Water Management Office distributed on Friday 50 air pumps in the five towns to enhance dissolved oxygen.

Three bancas were provided by the BFAR and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to augment the provincial government’s two boats in the clearing operations.

He said the task force composed of the BFAR, DENR, Philippine Coast Guard, the local government units of the five municipalities, BFAR-Inland Fisheries Research Station (IFRS) and Kilusan ng Maliit ng Mangingisda sa Taal has cooperated to remove all illegal fish cages and strengthen open fishing around the lake.

In Talisay, Batangas, sanitary permits were issued by local government agencies to ensure that harvested fish are fresh, while the police authorities set up checkpoints for the purpose of inspecting fishes being transported to the market.

Tomazar said the mayors and other concerned government agencies have agreed to set up guidelines on the dismantling and re-alignment of fish cages to avoid again fishkills in Batangas.        – With Ed Amoroso