Wednesday, October 03, 2007 Mining company protests DENR order to release vessel bearing P15M in ore
A CEBU-BASED mining company owner has protested why a director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 ordered the release of a vessel loaded with allegedly stolen ore worth P15 million.
Benito R. Aratea Sr. of the Cebu Ore Mining and Mineral Resources of Minglanilla, Cebu said he was surprised that officer-in-charge Roger de Dios of the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB) 7 conducted a hearing last Sept. 28 and ordered the release of the vessel, LCT Kapitan.
However, the vessel’s owner was fined P5,000 allegedly because the permit to transport ore expired last Sept. 15.
Aratea has filed a complaint for robbery/theft before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Zamboanga Sibugay against Reynaldo Chua Jr. of San Francisco District, Pagadian City and several others for “stealing” the ore.
Prosecutor Jeric Salarde Kagaoan requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) last Sept. 17 to intervene and preserve the vessel and ore as evidence.
At that time, the vessel left the port in Pamintayan Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay and was believed to be bound for Manila.
But when the Coast Guard searched, it found the LCT Kapitan docked in Jetafe, Bohol, where it remained yesterday.
Aratea also filed a civil case for injunction before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 18 in Pagadian City to stop Chua, Rossel Tan, Roy Philip Ariola and Antonio del Rio from taking the ore.
RTC Judge Reinerio Ramas issued a temporary restraining order dated Sept. 19 directing Chua to preserve the mineral ore transported on the LCT Kapitan, pending identification of its rightful owners.
Aratea was surprised when informed that de Dios of the mines bureau conducted the hearing without his knowledge and resolved to release the vessel from Coast Guard custody.
Aratea was even more surprised when de Dios released his resolution after office hours of the same day he conducted the hearing.
“Clearly therefore, the documents would show that the fine was paid even before respondents (Chua and others) received a copy of the resolution, otherwise, how can they have paid the fine on Sept. 28, 2007 also?” Aratea said in his motion for reconsideration of de Dios’ order.
De Dios could not be contacted for comment at press time.
Aratea stated in his affidavit submitted to the court that he has purchased about 10,000 metric tons of ore. But last Sept. 13, he found out that Chua allegedly loaded most of their stockpiles on the LCT Kapitan.
While they attempted to stop the loading, Aratea said, armed men prevented their efforts to block the vessel. (EOB)
