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Category: Vera Files

Gov’t mining firm faces contempt over Diwalwal

Published by Ellen on November 24, 2008

From Malaya

The Supreme Court has ordered the state-run Philippine Mining Development Corp. (PMDC) to explain why it should not be cited in contempt for starting the bidding process for the exploration and mining operation of the 8,100-hectare Diwalwal gold rush area in Compostela Valley.

The bidding was allegedly undertaken by the PMDC, an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, despite the pendency of a legal dispute over the mining area before the high court.

(A VERA Files report said the government accepted on Oct. 14 letters of intent from mining firms to develop the Upper Ulip-Paraiso portion of Diwalwal consisting of 1,600 hectares. On top of this, there is an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the Chinese firm Zhongxing Technology Equipment (ZTE) to explore and mine a still undisclosed part of Diwalwal.)

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Quedancor swine program another fertilizer scam

Published by Ellen on September 1, 2008

Following is the first of a three-part series on Quedancor written by VERA Files.

by Diosa Labiste, Luz Rimban, and Yvonne Chua
VERA Files

(First of three parts)

ILOILO CITY— Aura Drew Escanlar was all set to take the nursing board examinations that December of 2004 when she decided instead to put up a piggery.

What changed her mind was an offer from the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp. (Quedancor). Called “the poor man’s financing institution,” the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) credit guarantee arm was giving out loans in the form of piglets and feeds, with a buy-back scheme that assured borrowers some income.

Escanlar then used her parents’ savings to build pigpens and buy piglets, and signed up for the Quedancor Swine Program (QSP). Less than a year later, Escanlar lost almost everything. The income from the buy-back scheme was always delayed, and the feeds came late or were not delivered at all. After 50 of her piglets died, Escanlar stormed the Quedancor regional office here. “You have turned my farm into a graveyard,” she told Quedancor employees.

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Biazon:Gordon committee is proper body to probe ER switching

Published by Ellen on July 31, 2008

by Dennis Gadil
Malaya

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon yesterday said a probe into allegations that switching of 2004 election returns took place while the documents were in the custody of House should be handled by another body.

Biazon, chair of the Senate national defense committee, suggested that the Senate electoral reform committee headed by Sen. Richard Gordon undertake a fresh inquiry. Gordon was not available for comment.

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