EMB regional director 'in hot water' for releasing Semirara audit results

The director of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6, who released copies of an audit report of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. to the company, is now under investigation, Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said on Thursday.

"That RD is in hot water. What he did was totally inappropriate," Lopez said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Lopez was referring to Jonathan P. Bulos, the regional director (RD) who gave copies of "The Investigation/validation/audit Report" and "The mining Audit Report" to Semirara Mining earlier this month.

On Tuesday, the miner said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that it received copies of the audit report from the EMB noting that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has found its Molave expansion project "technically sound" and "compliant with environmental laws."

The mine site is in Antique Province, around 510 kilometers southwest of Manila.

Lopez implied that releasing the audit results to Semirara Mining was premature as the DENR was scheduled to release the audit results of all mining operations on Monday, September 26.

On Wednesday, the DENR conducted an audit planning, Lopez noted. "This is in relation to all the mines."

In a separate text message on Thursday, DENR Undersecretary Leo Jasareno said more mining operations will be closed based on audit results.

"Ten more mines were recommended for suspension by the audit teams. For review by the DENR." — VDS, GMA News