Burning questions have surfaced following the discovery of the hauling of alleged illegally extracted sand in Garcia Hernandez town.

The questions surfaced as the local chief executive of Garcia Hernandez, Tita Baja, declined the invitation of The Bohol Tribune to air her side regarding the matter.

The Bohol Tribune’s associate editor Dave Albarado reached out to Mayor Baja for her side of the story on June 7, 2021 and she agreed to go on air the following day, Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

However, on the day that the the mayor was supposed to be interviewed, she changed her mind and refused to go on air citing that her statements might be construed as political

The refusal of the mayor from airing her side left some questions hanging in the balance and these questions are:

1.) Who is really behind the alleged illegal sand extraction in Garcia Hernandez?

2.) Who is the owner of the company who rented the vehicle owned by the local government unit of Garcia – Hernandez?

3.) Is the owner of the company related by blood or by affinity to one of the top officials of the LGU of G-Hernandez?

4.) Is there any connection between the person behind the alleged illegal sand extraction and anybody from the LGU?

5.) Who from LGU G-Hernandez allowed the use of the LGU-owned vehicle to the owner of the quarrying business?

6.) Is the family of Mayor Tita Baja or any of her relatives engaging in a hauling/quarrying business? If they are, can they help identify the owner (in case they know), of the company who rented the vehicle owned by the LGU of Garcia-Hernandez?

7.) Why did Mayor Tita Baja REFUSE to shed light on this matter that involves her LGU?

8.) Why did G- Hernandez Mayor Tita Baja DECLINE the opportunity to air her LGU’s side about the issue and instead claims that any statements she might issue may be construed as political? WHAT IS POLITICAL ABOUT THIS?

9.) Are we about to open Pandora’s Box here?

These are burning questions whose answers the public would want to know. The Bohol Tribune is always open to any person, including Mayor Baja, to air his/her side of the issue.

BACKGROUND

The issue stems from the interception of a LGU-truck rented by a certain Richele Ochavillo hauling alleged illegally extracted sand.

The truck was intercepted by a team from the Bohol Environmental Protection Task Force (BEPTF) led by retired Col. Alex Maglajos on June 4, 2021. The driver of the rented truck, which is owned by the local government unit (LGU) of Garcia Hernandez, a certain John Dante Salve, was reportedly unable to show a delivery receipt for the sand extracted allegedly near a river in barangay Calma, in the said town.

According to Provincial Legal Officer (PLO) Nilo Ahat, the provincial government ordered the person who was reported to have rented the LGU-owned truck to explain in writing within 3 days upon receipt of the order about the alleged illegally extracted sand.

Ahat told The Bohol Tribune that he expects the respondent to reply any time in the coming week regarding the allegations.

SIDE ISSUE

In relation to this issue, the reports say that the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) flagged down on Monday, June 7, 2021, a black sports utility vehicle (SUV) sporting a plate number allegedly belonging to a registered vehicle in Lapu-Lapu City.

The BEPTF team was on that SUV flagged down by the HPG. Apparently, the BEPTF team came from Garcia Hernandez town and Ahat said that the team had the proper travel authority.

Ahat mentioned to The Bohol Tribune that his office already reached out to the HPG to reach a “closure” to this issue.

The PLO said that the use of another plate is justified when a law enforcement entity, in this case the BEPTF, employing ways and means to facilitate arrest of violators of the law.

For his part, Gov. Arthur Yap wants the HPG to be involved in the operations of the BEPTF moving forward.