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By Gene Basilio, Correspondent
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya: Police Supt. Doming
Lucas, provincialdirector here, disclosed different angles as to the
motive of the murder Tuesday of Barangay Captain Paulino Baguilat,
55 years old, at Sitio Pimmadek, Barangay Didipio, Kasibu town.
Lucas said the police is looking into the angle
of a business rivalry where Baguilat was connected with 3K
Construction Company which was awarded numerous small-scale
sub-contract project like rip-rapping of road gutters by Oceana Gold
Philippines, Inc.
Lucas said one of the sub-contract bidders who
lost in the bidding had allegedly threatened the victim before the
shooting incident.
Another angle, Lucas said, have some other
councilors maintaining a grudge against Baguilat who as barangay
captain allegedly enjoys benefits and privileges from Oceana Gold.
Lucas also mentioned in his report something
work-related. Lucas said Baguilat was settling a land dispute
between two residents claiming to be the owner of two hectares of
land being purchased by Oceana Gold. Baguilat was seen having lunch
with one of the land claimants and the other may have seen this as
favoritism on the part of the barangay captain.
Lucas said investigation would continue after
Baguilat’s burial, including gathering of statements from
witnesses.
Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma sent a letter to
Manuel Gaite, Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs,
explaining the legality of the Cease and Desist Order she issued on
April 9. She maintained that the said order follows provisions of
the Provincial Revenue Code of Nueva Vizcaya in accordance with the
local government code.
“The proper remedy of any person who is
aggrieved by an ordinance of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is to
question the legality of the ordinance either with the Secretary of
Justice or the Courts. But in the meantime that the legality of the
ordinance is being questioned, the ordinance in question will remain
to be valid and in force,” Cuaresma stated.
Oceana Gold is reportedly continuing its mining
operations 24 hours a day. In a press statement issued by Oceana
Gold, it said a Philippines official warned anti-mining groups
blocking the major gold-copper project in Didipio that they are
committing an illegal act. It said the Melbourne-based company is
currently building facilities for mining the $320-million project
scheduled for production on 2010.
An anonymous letter was circulated by still
unidentified people stating that prior to Baguilat’s murder,
Cuaresma was persuading the barangay chief to join the group in the
enforcement of the CDO but the village chief declined and so came
his fatal shooting on the evening of the same day. The letter stated
that the provincial staff and their armed contingent did not respond
to the gunshots despite the proximity of the crime scene.
Cuaresma however denied having talked to
Baguilat as reported. She instead signed another order requiring
Lucas, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Noel
Alino, and National Bureau of Investagion chief Paul Rivera to
conduct a thorough investigation of the case, to keep peace and
order in Didipio, and to put under control “abuses by the
management of Oceana Gold.”
Rachel Magday, executive assistant to the
governor, said it was one of the staff of Oceana Gold who was seen
distributing the poison letter in the market place.
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