Governor in graft raps over P211-M minerals

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has ordered the filing of graft and usurpation charges against Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane of Zambales over theft of minerals worth P211 million.

In a 32-page resolution, the Ombudsman ruled that Ebdane--a former secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways under the Arroyo administration--usurped the functions of the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board by granting small-scale mining permits without authority to Geoking Asia Mining Corporation’s Weng Chen, Camilo Esico and three others.