Sandiganbayan issues HDO vs. Pangasinan Gov. Espino, 13 others

The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has issued a hold departure order (HDO) against incumbent Pangasinan governor Amado Espino Jr. and 13 other individuals in connection with their graft case.

In an HDO dated March 21, the court directed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to bar Espino and the other accused from leaving the country "except upon prior approval from this Court."

The Sixth Division said the HDO was issued considering that Espino and his 13 co-accused are already facing a case of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the alleged illegal black sand mining in Lingayen Gulf area.

Aside from Espino, also included in the HDO list were provincial administrator Rafael Baraan and Provincial Housing and Homesite Regulation officer Alvin Bigay.

Also listed in the HDO were private individuals Cesar Detera, Edwin Alcazar, Lolita Bolayog, Denise Ann Sia Kho, Annlyn Detera, Cynthia Detera-Camara, Glenn Subia and Emiliano Buenavista who are all members of the Board of Directors of the Alexandra Mining and Oil Ventures Inc. as well as Michael Ramirez, Gina Alcazer and Avery Pujol who are members of the Board of Directors of another company, Xypher Builders Inc.

Based on the information of the case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman with the Sandiganbayan early this month, Espino, allegedly in conspiracy with Baraan and Bigay, "gave unwarranted benefits, privilege and advantage” to Alexandra Mining and Xypher Builders by issuing in favor of the two companies permits to conduct “soil, magnetite and mineral extraction activities" in Barangay Sabangan in Lingayen Gulf, Pangasinan in 2011.

The Ombudsman said a Small Scale Mining Permit was issued in favor of Alexandra Mining despite lack of the necessary clearance certificates from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), accreditation from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board or PCAB, and business permit from the municipality of Lingayen.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman said a Gratuitous Permit was issued in favor of Xypher despite also not being accredited by PCAB. Like Alexandra, the Ombudsman said Xypher also failed to secure clearance certificates from the MGB.

Further, the Ombudsman alleged that Espino also issued a Mineral Ore Export Permit in favor of Xypher allowing the company to sell the illegally extracted minerals to DH-Kingstone Holdings Co. Ltd. based in China in the amount of P10.750 million, "causing undue injury to the government." —KBK, GMA News