Ex-Pangasinan gov pleads ‘not guilty’ to graft over black sand mining

Former Pangasinan governor Amado Espino Jr. on Thursday entered a “not guilty” plea for his graft cases in connection with the alleged illegal black sand mining activities in Lingayen Gulf in 2011.

“Not guilty, you honor,” Espino told the justices of the Sixth Division after the information of the cases were read to him by the clerk of court during his arraignment.

Espino is facing two counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The cases stemmed from his alleged issuance of mining permits to two companies in 2011 despite their failure to secure environmental clearances and business permits.

Meanwhile, the following co-accused of Espino likewise pleaded “not guilty” to the graft charges:

• Former provincial administrator Rafael Baraan
• Former Provincial Housing and Homesite Regulation officer Alvin Bigay
• Private individuals Cesar Detera, Edwin Alcazar, Lolita Bolayog, Cynthia Detera-Camara, Annlyn Detera, Glenn Subia and Denise Ann Sia Kho Po, who are all members of the Board of Directors of the Alexandra Mining and Oil Ventures Inc.
• Private individual Gina Alcazar, member of the Board of Directors of Xypher Builders Inc.

The court set a three-day preliminary conference or marking of evidence by the prosecution and the defense on September 20, 21 and 22.

It also set the pre-trial of the case on November 10, in which the prosecution and the defense are expected to submit their final list of respective witnesses and evidence that they intend to present during the trial proper.

Meanwhile, three other respondents in the cases, namely Emiliano Buenavista of Alexandra Mining and Michael Ramirez and Avery Pujol of Xypher Builders, have yet to be arraigned as they remain at large.

Based on the information of the cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in March, Espino, 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 (SSMP) 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 said 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