MALOLOS CITY – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bulacan recommended on Tuesday a 6-month suspension against Mayor Ronaldo T. Flores of the mountain town of Donya Remedios Trinidad.
This came after six board members favored guilty findings on charges of conflict of interest and abuse of authority filed against Flores by a barangay chairman from his town. Three other board members dissented, while four were absent.
The decision came after almost two months of hearing and deliberations on the merits of the cases filed by Roberto Sembrano, village chief of Barangay Camachin.
However, the SP recommendation will only be implemented after Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado signs it.
Sembrano filed the cases of “conflict of interest” and “abuse of authority” against Flores on Nov. 4, 2011.
The complainant accused the mayor–“by abuse of power and or authority”—is engaged in illegal mining activities by extracting, stockpiling and transporting of iron ores from Barangay Camachin, and utilizing for his own gain some employee of the municipal government to conduct his illegal operations in the said village.
Sembrano further stated that Flores, being the incumbent mayor of DRT, is the issuing authority of mayor’s and business permit of Ore Asia Mining and Development Corp. (Ore-Asia), which has mining business in Barangay Camachin.
He added that through influence and abuse of authority, the respondent was able to contract, through its corporation Sky Trac Trucking and Marron Mineral Carriers, Inc, the hauling services in transporting iron ores from Ore Asia’s extraction site to stockpile area and from the stockpile area to the pier.
Sembrano said that this indicates the mayor’s conflict of interest and abuse of authority.
In his counter affidavit, Flores said that “the charges for unlawful mining activities and monopoly of hauling services are both unfounded and cannot be sustained.”
The committee on justice and good governance however found that Flores violated the law on the conflict of interest.
The SP said that it was very clear that the accused is a public officer and that he has direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction.
The body also found that the mayor has indeed abused his power when he used his position as municipal mayor to favor his trucks as the hauler of iron ore of Ore Asia by issuing permits, use of municipal employees in his personal business ventures, apprehension of rival trucks and threatening Ore Asia that he will not issue permit if they will not hire his company to haul ore and use the Ore Transport Permit of Ore Asia.
Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rusticode Belen said that the decision is a clear realization that Alvarado is really true in implementing his seven point agenda—specifically good governance—to punish irresponsible and abusive public officials.
He also said that this also proves that Alvarado is very firm in his resolve to protect the environment and natural resources of the province.
