Criminal and administrative charges have been filed before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) against San Fernando, Camarines Sur Mayor Fermin M. Mabulo and five barangay chairmen for their alleged involvement in illegal quarrying.

The five barangay officials named in the complaint were Barangay Grijalvo Chairman Julian Coros Jr., Barangay Pipian Chairman Enopre Metillo, Barangay Bocal Jobert Lumabao, Barangay Alianza Chairman Delito Aborde, and Barangay Beberon Chairman Larry Mateo.

The complaint was filed last Sept. 8 by Richie R. Bolaños, Emmanuel P. Bustard, and Nimuel T. Azuela of the Sage Kalikasan Task Force. They asked the OMB to hold Mabulo and Mateo liable for violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code or Illegal Use of Public Property.

On the other hand, the complaint said that Mabulo, Mateo, Aborde, Lumabao, Metillo, and Coros should be held liable for violation of Section 20 of Camarines Sur Provincial Ordinance No. 30 Series of 2014 as amended by Provincial Ordinance No. 16 Series of 2017, as well as administrative liability for Gross Neglect of Duty, Grave Misconduct, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

The complainants said that the illegal quarrying activities were done reportedly without permit from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) or the provincial government and have resulted in the mayor's family allegedly pocketing P544 million and failing to pay local taxes estimated at P54 million, which is based on the 10-percent tax rate under the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC).

They said the MGB issued an order on April 26, 2021 directing the cessation of any form of illegal mining or mountain quarrying within Barangays Grijalvo, Pipian, Bocal, and Alianza, all in San Fernando town.

They alleged that illegal quarrying activities were reported on June 7, 2021 in San Fernando and were lodged before the Office of the President. They said that former vice mayor Allan Valenzuela had reported that a cease and desist order from the DENR was received by the mayor's office. "Unfortunately, it was noted that extraction activities continued despite the order to stop all illegal quarry operations in the municipality," they also alleged.

"Respondent mayor has been negligent in the performance of his duties and has been impervious to the proliferation of illegal quarrying activities in his area of jurisdiction. Respondent barangay captains Lumabao, Aborde, Metillo, and Coros have equally displayed negligence in allowing illegal quarrying in their respective barangays," the complaint said.

On the administrative charge, the complainants asked the OMB to impose a six-month preventive suspension without pay on the mayor and the five barangay chairmen.

None of those named in the complaint could be contracted for comment as of posting. Their counter-affidavits, if required by the OMB and once officially filed, would also be published by the Manila Bulletin.