NO BLACK SAND MINING

“THE issue here is no longer about black sand.”

This was how Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. assessed the published news items last week on the resolution of the Office of the Ombudsman affirming his indictment along with dismissed executives provincial administrator Rafael F. Baraan and provincial housing and urban development officer Alvin Bigay.

Mr. Espino cited government agencies in charge of protecting coastal areas and mining activities that officially stated that there was no black sand mining (in Pangasinan).

The governor was referring to statements issued by regional offices of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Environmental Management Board (EMB), which are both under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The governor also pointed out that AROMAS president Vicente Oliquino, the original complainant, admitted that “this is nothing but politics,” as evidenced by voice clips in previous media interviews on the black sand issue.

Mr. Espino said that the black sand mining issue first cropped up in 2012 when he was about to seek re-election in the 2013. He said that the issue was resurrected by his political detractors in March of 2014, a month after a gubernatorial hopeful, former congressman Mark Cojuangco, declared he wanted to run for governor in 2016 and the provincial chief executive’s son, Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay president Amado I. Espino, III decided to run against Cojuangco.

“What they wanted,” the governor said, “was for me and my son not to run so that Mr. Cojuangco will be unopposed in the coming polls.”

Governor Espino said that he cannot allow this to happen. He lamented: “Hindi naman ako papayag dahil sisirain lang nila ang Pangasinan. Kung yung bayan nga ng Sison hindi nila naasikaso, Pangasinan pa kaya?”

“Kung yan ang kagustuhan nila, gusto ko lang ipaalam sa kanila na ramdam na namin ang sakit nang kaya nilang gawin,” the governor said.

“I am just wondering why Engr. Rosendo So, my friend and a fellow Filipino, can afford to do such thing when he knew himself that the allegations are not true. “Is there a need to rub it on, to add more cruelty?” the governor asked referring to the dismissal of Baraan and Bigay, both of whom can no longer claim their retirement benefits and are barred to assume or run for any public office.

“If they suspend me, I cannot do anything about it but to accept it. If they serve the warrant of arrest, I will post bail,” the governor said as he wondered why the decision dated January 11, 2015 denying the Motion of Reconsideration had to be made public at a time when the 2016 elections is just less than 90 days to go.

Quoting a DENR official, Mr. Espino pointed out that “the separation of the black sand is merely incidental to the purpose of clearing the area, in order to make it appropriate for the required vegetative growth.” (Leonardo Micua)

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