Capitol, Bacolor officials at odds over Gugu ‘desilting’
By Ian Ocampo Flora
BACOLOR -- Capitol officials and operators of the Gugu "desilting" operations here exchanged heated words which resulted in a standoff, after the Pampanga Provincial Government issued a closure order on the alleged "commercial" quarry operations in the area Wednesday afternoon.
In an order issued by Provincial Attorney Vivian Dabu to Assistant Provincial Legal Officer Joseph Quiambao, Capitol officials with personnel from the Biyaya a Luluguran at Lilingapan, with a throng of police enforcement from the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Pampanga Police Office went on to "temporarily" stop the activities in the contested area.
This came in lieu of the statement of Bacolor Mayor Buddy Dungca that he would be defying the previous Capitol order to stop the activities at Gugu creek.
Barangay San Vicente chairman Nikki Santos expressed annoyance over the standoff and branded the Capitol as "unsympathetic" and "oblivious" of the real situation along the disaster risk area.
The two groups heated up when Quiambao's group insisted on holding three remaining trucks with sand, which resulted in long traffic in the area.
"They can’t be allowed to enter the area. They should wait for their permit first,” Quiambao said, adding that the permit would be approved soon.
But the barangay officials insisted that the trucks would not make a big difference.
Capitol explains
In a phone interview, Dabu said the order to stop the activities indeed came from the Capitol. "Mayor Dungca only filed for 'gratuitous' permit from the Capitol just this morning but even if he filed for a permit it does not mean that they could already resume their activities at Gugu," she said.
The gratuitous permit is a special grant from the Provincial Government to allow local government to haul sand for "public" purposes.
However, Dabu clarified that the permit's approval is still a prerogative of the Provincial Government.
"If they can prove that it's not for commercial purposes then the Provincial Government would allow them," Dabu said, assuring that the permit, if necessary requirements are met, would be issued immediately.
Dabu also said the presence of the police was for "assistance" purposes only after barangay officials here decried that the closure operation was "overkill".
Buddy's side
Dungca expressed his disappointment with the Capitol, saying it failed to look on the grater reason behind the continued desilting operation.
It was in the same area that the infamous Cabalantian tragedy originated, causing loss of lives and property.
When asked if the Capitol is doing this because of the rumored enamored relationship between him and Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio due to political alliances, Dungca said he does not believe that the governor is getting back at him.
As of press time, watchers were set in the vicinity of the Gugu creek to uphold the closure order pending the deliberation of necessary permits from the Capitol.
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