Tadeco to file charges over destruction of biosecurity fence

PANABO CITY, Philippines — The banana giant Tagum Agricultural Development Corporation Inc. (TADECO) is set to file charges against officials and personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other agency officials who forcibly destroyed the bio-security barrier at the entrance of Barangay Tanglaw in the Municipality of Dujali, Davao del Norte, Monday, March 5, 2018.

Anthony Sasin, Chairman of TADECO told Newsline.ph that their lawyers are working on the filing of charges and are “studying all the charges applicable to all those who destroyed and are instrumental in the destruction of the biosecurity fence.”

Sasin said the personnel from DPWH destructed the biosecurity barrier at about 3:00 in the afternoon on their way out towards Tagum DPWH engineering office.

The team led by Edwin Jubahib, told Newsline.ph that he was representing House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in the survey.

At about 10:00 in the morning, Jubahib led the group along with District Engineer Noel Basañez, members of the Philippine National Police Davao del Norte and representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Bureau of Lands , Vice Governor Allan Dujali, Board Member Evangelista of Davao del Norte and former Diwalwal barangay Captain Franco Tito, among others towards TADECO area. Confrontation ensued between Jubahib and the security of Tadeco.

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The supposed survey last Monday was in observance of the letter sent by Congress representative Johnny Pimentel, chairperson of the Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability who wrote Basañez on February 20, 2018.

The letter states “During the Conrgessional inquiry last February7, 2018, they received information that public roads surrounding and leading to the Davao Penal Colony (DAPECOL) are blocked by physical barriers or manned by private individuals. In the same meeting, you stated that these are public roads accessible from DAPECOL to different barangays and municipalities of Davao del Norte and that there are no government infrastructure projects in the same areas that have been implemented by DPWH.”

Given the information, Pimentel instructed Basañez to “submit an inventory of this roads and infrastructure projects and to report on or before March 15 on their status and conditions.” The information will be relevant for the Committee proceedings on the Congressional inquiry.

In a letter to DENR XI Regional Director Ruth Manigos Tawan-tawan, dated February 20, 2018, Pimentel stated “The Committees directed Engr. Ruben Tacugue and his firm to undertake the land survey jointly with the DENR to be assisted by the PNP.

In the same meeting, Mr. Anthony Alexander Valoria, President of TADECO, consented that the land survey will include adjacent lands owned or occupied by TADECO. Pimentel’s letter stressed, “May we direct you to coordinate with Engr. Tacugue on the said undertaking and submit it to the Committee of Good Government and Public Accountability and Justice of the House of Representatives on or before March 16, 2018 a report on the survey thus conducted and all documents obtained from such undertaking.”

On Monday, Tawan-tawan sent Geodetic Engr. Isidro Guara to assist in the survey which did not transpired due to the commotion.

Guara in an interview with Newsline.ph said the survey was not carried out because of the “commotion between Mr. Jubahib and the Security guard in Bugtong Lubi area about the bio-security barrier.”

The DENR, he said, was waiting to assist in the survey. “But we were not consulted. There was no consultation when we arrived in the field, so we just waited until the group decided to pull out at about 3:00 in the afternoon,” Guara added.

Sasin said the biosecurity was a “very important facility in the banana industry and they destroyed it.”

Jubahib in an interview said “They should address the case to Congress, but I welcome that, during the survey, everyone witnessed  they closed the public road.”

When asked about claims that Tacugue is not a geodetic engineer, Jubahib answered in affirmative but stressed “His sons are geodetic, he works with them.“-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph