Espino ready for arrest warrant over black sand rap

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Gov. Amado Espino Jr. on Saturday said he was ready to face his indictment for violating the antigraft and corrupt practices law due to his alleged role in magnetite (black sand) extraction activities in a coastal area here.

In a news conference, Espino said he and two dismissed provincial government officials did not commit any wrongdoing, saying there were no black sand mining activities in the area.

In a resolution signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Jan. 11, the Office of the Ombudsman denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Espino, dismissed provincial administrator Rafael Baraan and provincial housing and urban development officer Alvin Bigay, and officers of the companies contracted for the alleged black sand mining.

“If I will be suspended, I will accept it. If they serve the arrest warrant, I will post bail,” said Espino.

He said the black sand mining issue began in 2012 when he was about to seek reelection in the 2013 polls.

He said his political detractors stepped up their disinformation campaign on the issue when his son, Amado Espino III, decided to run for governor in the May 9 elections.

“I’m telling you this for you to know that black sand [mining] is no longer the issue here. As you have seen, government environment agencies have said that there was no black sand mining,” Espino said.

He said he was the target in the disinformation campaign and he was sad that Baraan and Bigay had to be dismissed. “I want them to know that we can feel the pain that they are capable of inflicting on us. Maybe, that is their satisfaction by flaunting that they are behind this,” Espino said.