Monday, October 30, 2006 DENR starts probe on extortion complaints By Bong S. Sarmiento
KORONADAL CITY -- The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) has started investigating reports that some of the agency's personnel are extorting P50,000 from hospitals in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
EMB Regional Director Datu Tungko Saikol said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Central Mindanao Director Jim Sampulna recently created a task force that will look into reports of employees extorting money in exchange for the issuance of an environmental clearance certificate (ECC).
Last week, Philippine Hospital Association president Tiburcio Macias claimed that DENR workers extorted P50,000 from hospitals supposedly violating waste management regulations.
Macias however said the complaints from hospitals in two Central Mindanao provinces were only relayed to him through text messages.
The alleged extortion activities of EMB employees reportedly started when the DENR and the Department of Health issued a joint administrative order requiring hospitals to register with the DENR before they are issued licenses by the health department.
"We will not hesitate to crack the whip on erring field personnel. But again, we have to conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine if there is truth to the allegations," Saikol said.
South Cotabato Provincial Board Member Elmo Tolosa said the board will also conduct a separate inquiry on the matter.
Tolosa, a medical practitioner, said among those who will be invited to hearing are various hospital operators in South Cotabato.
For Bisaya stories from General Santos.Click here.
(This section is updated every Monday)
(October 30, 2006 issue) Write letter to the editor.Click here. Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here.
