‘Port Point operator should first comply with the rules’

SAN FERNANDO, La Union — The Poro Point Management Corp. (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), would not allow the Poro Point Industrial Corp. (PPIC) to resume operations at the disputed seaport here despite the issuance of a court injunction last Friday, an official said.

The PPMC official, who requested anonymity, told The STAR that they would block PPIC’s resumption of port operations unless it complies with the regulations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) by securing an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

"We will not allow them (PPIC) to operate the port. They should first comply with the rules because they are violating environmental laws. That is why there is a cease-and-desist order issued against them," the official said.

The PPMC official insisted that the cease-and-desist order is not covered by the injunction issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Roberto Cawed.

The injunction is an indefinite extension of the temporary restraining order (TRO) which Cawed issued against the BCDA and the PPMC last Aug. 10.

"The judge cannot ‘TRO’ the DENR. We will enforce police power if they (PPIC) insist on taking over the port. We are the ones implementing the police power with regards to the (cease-and-desist order)," the PPMC official said.

The PPMC has defied the court order by not allowing PPIC employees to report to their work at the seaport.

Members of the police mobile group based at Camp Diego Silang have been guarding the port area since the dispute erupted early this month.

The court injunction also barred Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager Oscar Sevilla and port manager Silverio Mangaoang Jr. from taking over the port operations.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza earlier directed the PPA to take over operations at Poro Point upon the request of the BCDA and PPMC after the DENR issued the cease-and-desist order against the PPIC.

Lawyer Brigido Dulay, PPIC’s legal counsel, however, told The STAR that the company has an ECC considering that it is a "part shareholder" and partner of the BCDA and PPMC in developing the entire Poro Point special economic and freeport zone.

Dulay said former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonio Cerilles granted the ECC for the whole ecozone in May 2000 as applied for by former BCDA chairman Rogelio Singson.

Earlier, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson claimed that the PPIC contract was null and void from the start since there was no public bidding and that its terms and conditions were allegedly grossly disadvantageous to the government.

Singson alleged that Rogelio Singson, a relative of his, was pressured by ousted former President Joseph Estrada to award the contract to operate the Poro Point seaport to the PPIC, which he said was controlled by Manny Tan and Jaime Dichaves, Estrada’s close friends.

Singson has called for a full-blown congressional inquiry into what he claimed was the highly questionable award of the contract to the PPIC.