Aurora, Philippines

THE Bureau of Immigration yesterday spoke up on the case of four Chinese nationals who were ordered to legalize their stay in the country after being acquitted of drug charges.

In an interview, lawyer Bienvenido Chy, BI legal division chief, explained the dismissal of the deportation case against Sy Tho, Wang Tha Ti, Chin Na Chua and Chen Chien, who were arrested on August 30, 2006 while allegedly manufacturing illegal drugs in a shabu laboratory in Dingalan, Aurora.

Chy said the BI had to dismiss the deportation case against them since the Baler, Aurora Regional Trial Court Branch 66 dismissed the drug charges against the four foreigners and the Court of Appeals also dismissed the petition for certiorari questioning the decision of the Baler RTC. by Lee  Ann P. Ducusin

Journal Online

DINGALAN, Aurora — Members of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan are set to pass a resolution urging DENR Secretary Lito Atienza to reconsider his order relieving Meliton Vicente as community environment and natural resources officer for towns of San Luis and Dingalan.

Aside from the SP, various non-government organizations and other groups also urged Sec. Atienza to reinstate Vicente, while disputing reports of rampant illegal logging in this town.

Ugnayan ng Mamamayan sa Lungsod at Nayon, Inc., the Catholic Association of Ibona, the Dingalan chapter of Task Force Sierra Madre, Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee and Save Dingalan Movement all called on Atienza to reconsider his relief of  Vicente.

They cited his efforts to protect the natural resources of the Sierra Madre Mountains in urging his reinstatement.

In a dialogue with Atienza at the DENR office in Manila last week, leaders of the groups, headed by Roberto Modesto,  decried the lack of due process in the relief of Vicente. By: Mamer Bañez

Journal Online

DINGALAN, Aurora – Four non-government organizations and people’s organizations urged Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza to reinstate a former community environment and natural resources officer in southern Aurora who was sacked due to alleged “rampant illegal logging” in the town.

The Ugnayan ng Mamamayan sa Lungsod at Nayon, Inc., the Catholic Association of Ibona composed of 525 families, the  Dingalan chapter of Task Force Sierra Madre and the Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee called on Atienza to reconsider his earlier decision relieving former CENRO Meliton Vicente, Jr., citing his efforts to protect the natural resources in southern Aurora. They also denied reports that illegal logging is rampant  in the town.

In a dialogue with Atienza at the DENR central office Thursday,  leaders of the four groups, headed by Roberto Modesto, decried the lack of  due process in the relief of Vicente. They said Atienza replaced Vicente with Joselito Blanco without conducting an investigation into the alleged resumption of illegal logging in the town.by Mamer Bañez

Journal Online

At least six persons were injured after a truck carrying rice to a National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse fell off a 20-foot ravine amid heavy rains and floods in Aurora province Sunday.

Radio dzBB reported Sunday night that the 10-wheeler truck (WFC-758) and its cargo of 550 bags of NFA rice were destroyed, and the driver and at least five passengers suffered minor injuries.

Initial investigation showed the truck was heading for Aurora via the Baler-Bongabon Road amid heavy rain and floods when part of the road gave way.

The truck fell into a ravine and was destroyed. The passengers were rushed to hospital where they were treated for bumps, cuts and bruises.

GMANews.TV

BALER, AURORA – Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso and the provincial mining regulatory board (PMRB) approved on Tuesday the three small-scale mining permits (SSMPs) of the subsidiaries of the NiHAO Mineral Resources International Inc.

“We reinstituted its permits because it did not commit any violations,” Deloso said in a telephone interview on Wednesday to confirm claims by NiHAO chair Michael Defensor in a letter to the Inquirer.

Defensor, former secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, earlier corrected reports that cited some facts drawn from the company’s disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange. The firm is publicly listed.

The report said the subsidiaries of NiHAO “lost their mining and quarrying permits after the provincial governor (Deloso) cancelled all regulatory approvals.”

The report also quoted a disclosure statement saying “all pending applications for mining and quarrying permits were also denied by the provincial government.” By Tonette Orejas

INQUIRER.net