PNP to investigate the alleged extortion of Municipal Mayor in Misamis Oriental to Hanjin, Chief of Police in two towns relieved

Miami
May 2, 2008
Story: PNP to investigate the alleged extortion of Municipal Mayor in Misamis Oriental to Hanjin, Chief of Police in two towns relieved

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has been ordered by Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno to investigate the alleged extortion of municipal mayor to Hanjin Heavy Industries happened in the town of Misamis Oriental.

Hanjin is a South Korean company.

In a press conference, Friday morning, Puno narrates that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo told him last Wednesday, April 30 that she received reports, “Two municipal Mayors from Misamis Oriental from the town of Togoloan and Villanueva engaged in extortion. With respect to Hanjin, on its project putting up one of the world’s largest shipyard in Tagoloan and which would provide 40,000 jobs. That is why the President became furious upon learning it.”

On the latest report that the DILG received, because of the extortion incident, the Hanjin declared its intention to cancel and abandoned the project and stopped their operation. This alarms the President.

According to Puno, the President ask her to investigate the matter, Puno on his part directed the PNP to investigate what exactly happened.

Puno added that when the President was in Cagayan de Oro last Wednesday (April 30) for the ro-ro event, she met with the Governor of Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno together with the Mayor of Tagoloan Paulino Emano and Vilanueva Mayor Juliet Uy to discuss the complaint of Hanjin.

During their conversation, “Tagoloan Mayor Emano said Hanjin has offered him Php 400M in order to help them with the project,” Puno narrates.

Puno noted that there are now two different stories that coming out, one was extortion on part of the Mayor and second the bribery on part of Hanjin.

On part of the police, PNP Chief Director General Avelino Razon has created a task force that would investigate what happened in Misamis. He also ordered the relieve of the Chief of Police in Tagoloan P/CInsp. Claudio Mariquit and Chief of Police in Villanueva P/SInsp. Nanette Odchigue effective May 1, 2008. “We order for their relieve to insure fair and impartial investigation.”

The PNP had created Task Force TAGOVILL to investigate the allegations made by Hanjin which is the extortion and the allegations of Tagoloan Mayor of bribery against Hanjin.

The investigating body will be lead by Police Director Jefferson Soriano, Director for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) while Sr. Supt. Joel Coronel will be the lead investigator. Both police officers were also lawyers, the PNP is ensuring the public that they know what to look on to and how to investigate the situation. Coronel already went to Misamis Oriental to start on the investigation.

The Hanjin complains of extortion after Tagloan Mayor issued an order for them to cease their operations after the company failed to present Environmental Compliance Certificate and municipal building permit. Puno said, “This is one of what should be investigated upon, because I think Hanjin will not operate or start working or building an establishment without having the necessary permits because they will occupy 8-hectare lot.”

After the investigation, the CIDG will file the necessary case. The PNP will investigate on the criminal aspect of the case and the provincial government will investigate on the administrative aspect.

However, the governor of Misiamis Oriental said in a telephone interview with the Manila Shimbun, he did not received any complaints from the Mayors against Hanjin and Hanjin against the two Mayors. “What case I will investigate, if I do not receive any reports about it, Moreno said.

But he confirmed that the two Mayors and him met with the Presdient last April 30 in Cagayan de Oro after lunch, “But there were no extortion issue then.”

Moreno added that he is now surprised on the reports that coming out.