THE rift between two lawmakers from Surigao province has intensified after Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Monday urged President Rodrigo Duterte and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to investigate Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay’s allegedly illegal activities.
“Mr. President, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, I appeal to you on behalf of my constituents. You have promised to stamp out graft and corruption. Mr. Pichay’s violations are not being hidden, they are being committed openly for everyone to see, as if challenging us, yet insulting and mocking all of us.
Your action, Mr. President, would be an eloquent fulfillment of your promise,” Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said in a privilege speech.
Pichay denied the allegation and challenged Barbers not to hide from “the cloak of congressional immunity in making wild accusations against him.”
“Those are all baseless and unfounded,” Pichay said when reached for comment.
In his speech, Barbers also questioned the deafening silence of Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez on how a long-suspended Claver Mineral Development Corp., which was fraudulently and forcibly taken over by Pichay, was still given permits to mine, haul and sell nickel ores.
“Contrary to her media pronouncements and actions of suspending mining companies left and right, here comes a long suspended mining firm illegally acquired by Mr. Pichay being given a new lease in life. I never thought that the DENR possesses the power to resurrect Lazarus from the dead,” he said.
“Why did the Secretary (Gina Lopez) allow this to happen? Is it because the personality involved is a Congressman? Does the good Secretary know what is happening in her department? Or was she threatened that she won’t get the nod of the powerful Commission on Appointments if she goes against the will of the congressman?” he added.
According to Barbers, it is also not far-fetched that Secretary Lopez must have been pressured to commit unlawful errors by someone close to her, “maybe someone who is a consultant partner of Mr. Pichay who also happens to be connected with the DENR.”
By cunning manipulations, Barbers explained that Mr. Pichay was able to make the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mine and Geosciences Board, and a trial court believe that he is the rightful claimant and legit owner of a mining firm in Claver that belongs to other people.