Cagayan mayor suspended anew

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Fresh from his 60-day preventive suspension, a controversial mayor in northernmost mainland Cagayan province known for his anti-mining stand has been suspended anew for six months by the provincial board. 

In a 6-4 vote, the board meted Monday the six-month suspension on Buguey town Mayor Ignacio Taruc, who had just served his two-month preventive suspension in connection with administrative charges filed against him by an employee of the office of Vice Mayor Licerio Antiporda III.

Only last Friday, Taruc, who had just finished his two-month suspension by the provincial board, was greeted with cheers and accolades during an environment forum in Isabela province, where he likewise brought out the problem concerning black sand mining in his town.

Taruc’s new suspension once again set off waves of protests by his supporters before the municipal hall of the marine and black sand rich northeastern Cagayan coastal town.

Taruc’s successive suspension was made ostensibly in connection with a series of administrative cases filed by the vice mayor’s office allegedly for “grave misconduct, oppression and grave abuse of authority.”

But Taruc’s supporters and other anti-mining activists believe that his suspension was due to his vehement opposition to the provincial government-sanctioned black sand or magnetite mining in his town.

Taruc, a fierce anti-mining advocate, and Gov. Alvaro Antonio, who is supporting the mining project, have been at loggerheads over mining activities in Buguey. 

Suspension order

Last month, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza had already suspended the operations of Buguey’s black sand mining for operating within the 200-meter shoreline which, he said, is a violation of environmental laws. 

Taruc directly accused the powerful Enrile family here, headed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, a native of neighboring Gonzaga town as having a hand in his suspension.

The Enriles could not be immediately reached for comment.

However, Vice Gov. Leonides Fausto, who presides over the board which suspended Taruc, denied the Enriles’ role or any influence in the mayor’s suspension.

“We were fair in the ruling. This could be seen in the voting, that’s why there is no truth to the charges of the Enriles’ being behind Mayor Taruc’s suspension,” he said.

Taruc said his suspension was “another move by the Capitol and the Enriles to oppress me after I refused to give permission to the operation of mining in my town.”