Banat News, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Philippines News Agency, Philippine Canadian Inquirer, PTV (Philippines), Palawan News, HTDS Content Services
QUEZON CITY — Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga was asked to resign from her government post due to alleged corruption.
The resignation call was made by the residents and fishermen from Lemery, Batangas on Wednesday (June 5) as they called for an end to hunger and lower price of rice, water and electricity rates. They were joined by the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) led by water and power advocate Rodolfo RJ Javellana.
Javellana told members of the media that the UFCC wrote a letter to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. on June 4, 2024 informing him about the allegations of corruption against his cousin Jose Manuel Romualdez in connection with his involvement in Claver Minerals Development Corp. (CMDC).
He said that they were concerned about the actuations of the DENR which has approved a five-year restoration of the lost years of CMDC’s previous Minerals Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA).
Javellana added that the original MPSA was originally filed by CMDC Chief Executive Officer Rizal Balbin.
The UFCC national president stressed that apparently, the same MPSA has been cancellled since 2017 due to CMDC’s many violations which were officially on record.
The noted good gvernnent advocate pointed out that because of the appeals on the said cancelation, the CMDC now claims “force majeur” and asked the DENR to approve the return of the five years lost in the interim of the appeals.
The anti-corruptipn crusader further said that there is a reason why the cancellation was done, and that justice demands that the DENR should not have approved the return of five years to the original MPSA.#
