by Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–Palompon (Leyte) Mayor Ramon Oñate had requested DENR Secretary Ma. Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga for immediate action “on numerous alarming environmental transgressions committed in the 4th district of Leyte by its representative, Cong. Richard Gomez.”
Oñate, in his letter to the secretary dated 8th of July, alleged that these environmental complaints against the congressman and his family—lodged at the DENR-Region 8 office—had not been acted upon by Regional Executive Director (RED) Loremelyn Claudio.
According to the mayor, among the environmental complaints against Gomez and his family, were the following:
1) Spearheading the construction of a 150-hectare Megacity Township at Brgy. Naungan Mangrove Eco-Park;
2) Complicit in the cutting of more than 200 mangrove trees to give way to the construction of a 2.8-kilometer network development project traversing a mangrove forest;
3) Responsible for the introduction of 20,000 tilapia fish fingerlings in Lake Danao National Park, a Protected Area under RA 7586;
4) Turning a blind eye on the destruction of Canawagan River resulting from the sand and gravel operation of Congressman Gomez’s brother-in-law (Mayor Matt Torres of Kananga, Leyte); and
5) Burying of chicken carcasses infected with H1N1 inside a poultry farm located near rivers and built-up areas (among the owners of this poultry farm is Gomez’ daughter Juliana).
Onate stated in his letter to Secretary Loyzaga that RED Claudio has “obviously manifested her favor towards the Congressman by allowing herself to act and be dictated according to her whims and caprices.”
RED Claudio “has allowed the agency (DENR) to be an instrument of politics, bending its mandates to accommodate one politician’s plot to disestablish another,” said the Palompon mayor.
Oñate said the DENR “shall not be used as a tool to advance any political agenda,” and as an esteemed agency, it “must uphold its mandate free from any political reins.”
RED Claudio’s “acts of partiality and discrimination not only tarnish the reputation of the DENR but also have severe consequences on the morale and motivation of staff members who are being used for her personal gain,” added Oñate.
Oñate finally told Secretary Loyzaga that “integrity and credibility of the DENR are at stake, and it is imperative that swift action be undertaken to address these serious issues.” —-Miriam G. Desacada