Pampanga mayor faces suit for illegal quarry

MANILA, Philippines—The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft charges against Mexico, Pampanga, Mayor Teddy Tumang for allegedly allowing illegal quarrying activities in a private property in 2005 despite the owner’s objections.

Ordered charged along with Tumang were barangay (village) captain Rafael Yabut and one Pantaleon Martin, the agency said in a statement.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro also ordered Tumang and Yabut’s suspension for three months without pay after finding them guilty of misconduct and violation of the code of conduct for public officials and employees.

Casimiro found the three liable for the illegal quarrying activities in the land owned by Eduardo Batac.

He said Batac’s property was damaged because of the illegal activities. The land became below ground level and also became uneven.

Batac wrote Tumang in 2005 asking him to stop the quarrying activities, but the mayor supposedly claimed that Martin was a tenant of the property and had given authority for the quarrying to be conducted.

The Office of the Ombudsman said Tabut and Tumang committed gross inexcusable negligence when they immediately granted the request to remove lahar deposits in a private property.