Thursday, June 28, 2007 Politicians linked to Penro man's extortion activity By Ben O. Tesiorna
SOME politicians from the Province of Davao Oriental are being linked to the extortion activity of an environment officer who was arrested by the police during an entrapment operation Monday afternoon.
Reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that 52-year-old Gilbert Ilustre Pajo of Conchita Ong Subdivision, City of Mati, worked as the provincial environment and natural resources officer under the administration of outgoing Governor Ma. Elena Palma Gil.
Pajo is said to be Palma Gil's point man in the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Council tasked to monitor and issue permits to all logging and mining operations in the province.
But Palma Gil's spokesman and son, Miguel, said Pajo has long been suspended by the governor due to numerous complaints against his alleged illegal activities.
Miguel said Pajo even campaigned against his mother in the May 14 elections.
"Mabuting mag-investigate sila para malaman nila na di namin tao si Pajo (Good if they will investigate so they will know that Pajo is no our man). In fact, he campaigned against my mother kasi ayaw niya (Palma Gil) itolerate ang kalokohan ni Pajo (because she doesn’t want to tolerate Pajo’s misdeeds). Alam naman ng lahat na ayaw ng mother ko sa (Everybody knows that my mother is against) mining. Two elections ago pa, wala na sa pwesto yan (Pajo is no longer with us two elections ago)," the governor's son said.
It was learned though that Pajo was not removed from office despite the numerous complaints against him but was merely on a floating status until his arrest last Monday.
Aside from Palma Gil, another politician said to be closely associated with Pajo is the family of Representative Joel Mayo Almario and his mother congresswoman-elect Thelma Almario.
Pajo was said to have helped the Almarios in their campaign in the last election. The Almarios were affiliated with Palma Gil's opponent in the gubernatorial race.
Sun.Star Davao tried getting the reaction of the Almarios on this regard but efforts proved futile.
Pajo was arrested by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Southern Mindanao Monday afternoon during an entrapment operation in the City of Mati.
Pajo was accused by businessman Ruben Feliciano of asking P100,000 from him so that a permit for his mining operation in Lupon, Davao Oriental will be renewed.
In a television report, Feliciano said Pajo had long been extorting money not just from him but from other businessmen of the province as well. Feliciano said others however chose to remain silent for fear of reprisal.
A government official of the province even told Feliciano to just "go along with the flow" if he wants to do business in the province. "Kung gusto ka magpadayon ug negosyo dinhi sa Davao Oriental dapat makisama ka sa akoa (If you want to continue doing business in Davao Oriental, you should do as I want)," was said to be the public official's remark to Feliciano in one of their conversations prior to Monday's incident.
In the entrapment operation shown on television, Pajo was seen entering the vehicle of Feliciano. Upon the complainant's signal, CIDG operatives immediately pounced on the unsuspecting Pajo and they caught him red handed holding the marked money.
Fluorescent test also showed Pajo to be positive for powder traces indicating that the suspect got hold of the marked money.
Pajo however refused to give any statement when interviewed by GMA Davao reporter Shiellah Vergara.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional director Ricardo Calderon meanwhile clarified that Pajo is not an employee of the DENR as reported on national television Tuesday evening. "Provincial environment and natural resources officer po siya ng Davao Oriental local government unit and not a DENR employee," Calderon said.
The CIDG have already filed extortion case against Pajo before the Mati Provincial Prosecutors Office Wednesday.
Cholijun Caduyac, Davao del Norte CIDG chief, said it will only be Pajo, for now, who will be charged since he was the one who received the bribe money.
Caduyac assured though that they are still working on the case until all of those involved in the illegal activity will be identified and charged in court.
