The Bohol Environment Protection Task Force (BEPTF) intercepted on Friday, June 4, 2021, a truck owned by the local government unit (LGU) of Garcia Hernandez allegedly hauling illegally extracted sand and gravel,
according to a police report obtained by The Bohol Tribune on Saturday, June 5, 2021.
The said report bares that a team of BEPTF led by retired Col. Alex Maglajos intercepted an Isuzu truck allegedly owned by the LGU of Garcia-Hernandez and driven by a certain John Dante Salve.
The truck was intercepted in barangay Calma, Garcia-Hernandez, according to the report.
The same report says that the BEPTF conducted an operation which led to the interception of the truck. The driver was unable to present a delivery receipt.
About 3 cubic meters of sand were loaded to the said truck, the report continues.
The same report says that a certain Ritchel Ochavillo of East Lungsod Daan, Garcia Hernandez allegedly rented the LGU’s truck and used it to haul the sand.
A source also told The Bohol Tribune that a certain Inday Ochavillo is allegedly a contractor of the LGU’s projects and extracts sand using the rented trucks owned by Garcia Hernandez town government.
This leads to us to ask:
• Is the LGU of Garcia Hernandez aware that its truck is being used for the alleged illegal activity?
• If the LGU truck was properly rented, is there a mechanism that is being used by the town government to monitor the purpose of the truck being used?
• What is the intent of the one who rented the truck to use an LGU vehicle to avoid getting flagged down for carrying alleged illegally-extracted sand?
• Is the LGU aware that there is an alleged illegal extraction of sand happening in the town and allegedly perpetrated by one of its contractors?
