DAVAO CITY – A mining firm denied on Tuesday, April 8, that they failed to pay their taxes in Pantukan town in Davao de Oro province.
On April 3, the municipal government held a press conference where municipal officials accused Hexat Mining Corp. of not paying their taxes for a significant period.
The HMC, led by Davao de Oro congressional candidate Noe “Butchoy” Taojo, said in a statement that they complied with all legal obligations and payments for their business permits.
Despite completing the requirements in January 2024, Taojo said the mayor’s permit was issued in October and they did not receive a permit despite paying all required fees this year.
Speaking before the Team Biyaheng Kalinaw proclamation rally in Mawab town, Davao de Oro on April 5, Taojo said he believes the allegation only surfaced after he declared his candidacy.
“This was never an issue before. Since I’m running for Congress, they’re throwing everything at me. I am being politicized,” Taojo said.
Municipal administrator and lawyer Maribel Basadre-Cab said Taojo allegedly claimed it was “okay to operate a business even without a permit.”
He denied this. “They twisted my words and made it look like I’m above the law when all I’ve done is encourage small businesses not to be afraid (in operating) while waiting for its permit approvals,” Taojo said.
HMC cited the Republic Act No. 11032, or Ease of Doing Business Act, which allows businesses to continue their operations if the government fails to process permits within a mandated period.
Taojo said they did not receive formal notice of deficiencies in its application, a procedural failure by the local government. He stressed that he is abiding by the rules.
“We are calling the Pantukan government to adopt an open, swift, and citizen-focused permitting process following its charter,” the HMC said.
HMC said they have paid all tolls and other fees under Municipal Ordinance No. 14, Series of 2006, and disclosed that from June to December 2024, they paid P6.1 million in toll despite no consultation when the ordinance was amended.
The mining firm said that they regularly pay the Environmental User’s Fee to provincial and municipal authorities to avoid service disruptions even amid overlapping jurisdiction issues.
They also said that they wrote a letter to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) seeking an exemption from specific toll under Executive Order No. 41.
HMC said the executive order states that tolls should not be collected on national roads or those built using LGU funds. They said that they continue making payments to avoid disputes while awaiting a ruling.
The company said they developed and maintained a road from Barangay Tibagon to Sitio Diat in Napnapan with previous Pantukan administrations recognizing their contributions.
“Even if they try to discredit me with lies, the people know the truth. We’ve built roads, jobs, and hope – not just headlines,” Taojo said.