Capitol bent on filing case against Gungob

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government is bent on filing charges against Consolacion Mayor Avelino Gungob for allegedly operating a quarrying business without permits.

 In a press conference, Capitol legal consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda said that Governor Gwendolyn Garcia had instructed provincial lawyer Marino Martinquilla and treasurer Roy Salubre to prepare for the necessary charges against Gungob.

 Sepulveda said that Salubre personally witnessed last Nov. 11 five municipal dump trucks loaded with limestone and other quarrying resources moving their way in barangay Garing of the town.

These resources, Sepulveda said, were extracted from Gungob’s property which he allegedly turned into a quarrying site “without supporting papers.”

 “And the area where these materials are sourced is purely from a quarrying operation owned by Gungob,” he said.

 The capitol consultant said that the province sent a team to barangay Garing last week following reports of the illegal quarrying activity there.

 Also last week, Panoypoy barangay captain Dennis Balaba reported to the Consolacion Police Station on the illegal quarrying operation at his barangay allegedly by Gungob.

 Balaba had said that he wanted the mayor to stop the operation after receiving advice from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

 Balaba said as requested by Gungob, he went to the mayor’s office but only to figure in a heated argument with him that allegedly resulted to almost being punched by the mayor.

 Sepulveda said last week the team from the Capitol tried to intercept the municipal dump trucks, but Gungob had intervened and managed to let them go.

 He said trying to prevent conflict with the mayor, Salubre had allowed those dump trucks, whose loads were reportedly for the use of some municipal projects, to pass but only after taking documentations.

 “Atty. Salubre, according to him, did not just want to make a scene. So he let them go,” Sepulveda said.

  Sepulveda said that they have already accumulated evidence such as pictures and have some eyewitnesses for the case to be filed. — Liv G. Campo/LPM (THE FREEMAN)