NBI summons Cagayan gov, 6 others over ‘extortion’

MANILA, Philippines - The governor of Cagayan Valley and six other local government officials were subpoenaed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with the alleged extortion on an American mining company tapped in a black sand mining project in the town of Buguey.

Summoned were Gov. Alvaro Antonio, Randy Miranda of Barangay Leron, Eva Antiporda of the Bureau of Immigrations, Antonio Chumacod and Emely del Mundo of Mines and Geosciences Bureau; and Daisy Viernes, president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen.

In an affidavit obtained by The STAR, James Lee of Feiron Steel Inc. asked the NBI to probe the alleged involvement of these officials and former mayor Licerio Antiporda or “Father Mayor” in the alleged anomalous black sand mining project that the American firm bagged in 2011.

Antiporda is the father of Buguey Mayor Cerry Antiporda while Miranda is allegedly the trusted man of Cerry and son of former Sangunniang Bayan member Adolfo  Miranda.

Lee said the local government withheld their mining equipment valued at P40 million after the company decided to back out of the project.

“The company is being victimized by those abusing their authority though it has done nothing wrong. With assets valuing over P40 million, the company cannot simply leave the equipment in Buguey and must retrieve those for liquidation,” Lee said adding the company wanted to leave the town free from liabilities.

“The company wishes to file charges against Sheriff Carlos Bajar, Miranda, and the ‘Father Mayor’ but will delay the filing  if it would further delay the liquidation of its assets,” the affidavit said.

An NBI source said the bureau would be looking at the graft angle of the case.

Lee said the company was tapped to do a dredging project in Buguey River. But two years since the project started, the firm has yet to secure a mineral process permit.

He attributed this to what he called a “poor relationship” between the firm and the local government.

The delay, Lee said, prompted the Feiron Steel to send him to the Philippines hoping he could be able to iron out the differences between the two parties.

“As my purpose was to re-stabilize the company, my first goal was to legitimize the company by obtaining the proper permits to mine,” he said.

The complainant said he sought for the advice of Mayor “Cerry” whom he failed to meet.

“I was informed by the Antiporda family to talk to the father of the mayor, Licerio ‘Boy’ Antiporda with the nickname of  â€˜Father Mayor,’” Lee said.

According to Lee, the elder Antiporda informed him that the company was way behind its scheduled Aug. 23 date to start the dredging of the river. 

The American firm and its contractors worked double time to meet the deadline.

Problems started when the elder Antiporda reportedly asked P1.650 million in “processing fee” of permits, according to Lee.

He said the elder Antiporda said the amount would be used in paying the eight SB members with P100,000 each; P100,000 for the barangay captain; and P750,000 for the mayor.

Lee said Antiporda required the firm to pay “additional” $2 per ton royalty that the firm allegedly “needed to pay” Antonio and P200,000  for Eva Antiporda.

“Antiporda claimed that the governor would never sign for the company’s Ore Transport Permit (OTP) and Mining Operations and Export Fee (MOEP) without his royalty and that Ms. Eva Antiporda would not allow for the processing of documents at the port without the P200,000 fee,” Lee said.

On top of this, Lee said the firm was allegedly  required to pay Cerry a royalty of $3 per ton and “a separate royalty” for the elder Antiporda.

He said the company decided to stop operating because of the losses it incurred in kickbacks alone.