President Arroyo has ordered an investigation against two municipal mayors in Misamis Oriental for allegedly extorting money from a South Korean construction company in the province. The alleged extortion attempt reportedly prompted the Koreans to initiate withdrawal from a $2-billion shipyard project.Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said he ordered the Philippine National Police to investigate allegations of Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction Co. Ltd. against Villanueva Mayor Juliet Uy and Tagoloan Mayor Paulino Emano.
Puno said Mrs. Arroyo personally told him during a Cabinet meeting to order the investigation. He said Mrs. Arroyo received the complaint during the meeting.
"An investigation has to happen. An investigation will be conducted immediately," Puno told reporters, explaining that counter-allegations of the construction firm and the two mayors should be acted upon.
Puno said the mayors had denied Hanjin's accusation during a meeting with Mrs. Arroyo in Malacañang. The mayors told Mrs. Arroyo that it was Hanjin that offered them money.
Puno said Hanjin threatened to withdraw from the shipyard project after an employee was allegedly mauled by two officials of the Villanueva municipal government.
Emano, meanwhile, accused Hanjin of offering him P400 million to allow the construction of the shipyard.(see video)
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ECC caused trouble?
The mayor suspended the projected because of the South Korean firm's failure to secure an Environment Compliance Certificate. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, however, had already issued Hanjin an ECC, allowing the resumption of the construction.
The South Korean firm, on the other hand, complained that its employee was "manhandled and roughed-up" by Emano's men.
PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr., meanwhile, relieved the police chiefs in Tagoloan and Villanueva to make sure that these officials will not be able to influence the investigation.
Razon said police chiefs Claudio Mariquit and Nannette Odchigue of Tagoloan and Villanueva, respectively, were relieved "to ensure a fair and impartial investigation."
The PNP chief said he had also ordered the deployment of a team of policemen from the Northern Mindanao police Regional Mobile Group to secure the Hanjin construction facility.
Razon also announced the creation of Task force TAGOVILL that will conduct the Hanjin project investigation. (Source)
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