Pampanga gov’t not given ruling on Lapids

City of San Fernando, Philippines—The provincial government has not received a copy of a supposedly midnight order of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez clearing Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid, his son Mark and three other former officials of plunder.

This, according to the provincial administrator, prevents the province from taking action.

Andres Pangilinan Jr., provincial administrator, said he learned of the existence of the order only after the Inquirer reported it based on a copy obtained by Fr. Eddie Panlilio, who sued the Lapids for plunder in 2009 when he was still governor.

Gutierrez approved a resolution clearing the Lapids on March 9, or a few weeks before she resigned to evade Senate trial on charges she protected former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo and their allies.

In his complaint, Panlilio said the Lapids, as governors, as well as former provincial administrator Fidel Arcenas and former provincial treasurers Jovito Sabado and Vergel Yabut failed to remit P568.2 million in quarry fees from 2002 to June 2007.

Senator Lapid served as governor for three terms from 1995 to 2004 while Mark served for a term from 2004 to 2007.

Collections under Panlilio rose to P611.11 million in three years while those under Pineda went at an average of P20 million monthly or a total of P285.015 million in 14 months.

The sand-quarrying industry in Pampanga boomed after Mt. Pinatubo spewed out ash, sand and rocks during its 1991 eruptions. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon