DROWNED 2 / DECAYING MARCOS MANSIONS
NAGA
CITY, JANUARY
31, 2012 (INQUIRER) By Jonas
Cabiles Soltes Inquirer Southern Luzon - Two small-scale miners drowned early on
Sunday after seawater rushed into a mining pit they dug close to the shore in
the coastal village of Palanas in Paracale, Camarines Norte, where they had been
mining for gold, the top police official in the northernmost province of Bicol
region said.
Senior Superintendent Joselito Esquivel, Camarines Norte police chief,
identified the casualties as Christian Banal and Budo Villanueva (ages yet to be
determined by the police), who both drowned about 5 a.m.
Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo Tallado said in a phone interview Sunday
that the two victims were engaged in compressor mining, an illegal mining
method, in which miners would use air compressors for breathing underwater while
searching for gold ores in water-filled mining pits or among the coral reefs
under the sea.
In Paracale, 27 kilometers northwest of the capital town of Daet, compressor
miners usually operated through offshore floating makeshift mining houses.
The governor said they have been trying to stop this kind of mining activity
but some miners have been able to keep the operations going.
FROM THE PHILSTAR
Palace: No funds for Marcos mansions By Aurea
Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated January 29, 2012 12:00 AMComments (9)
[PHOTO - FORMER FIRST LADY IMELDA MARCOS]
MANILA, Philippines - The government has no money to maintain the decaying
mansions of the cronies of the Marcos family, Malacañang said yesterday.
"We don't have the money for all the things the government needs to do.
That's why we budget properly and we see to it that funds go to priority
programs like poverty alleviation, uplifting the quality of life of our fellow
citizens, healthcare and education," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail
Valte said over radio dzRB. "What is important is that the lot is still there."
[PHOTO - Imelda Marcos Mansion at Tacloban Leyte]
"If we are to base it on the statements of (Presidential Commission on Good
Government) Commissioner (Maita) Chan-Gonzaga, the value is substantial. In
fact, the value of the land has appreciated as opposed to the structure itself,"
Valte said.
Valte said she had not seen the documents pertaining to the properties.
Privatizing these assets would need the approval of President Aquino, she added.
[PHOTO - MARCOS MANSION IN CABUYAO, LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES]
Gonzaga earlier said the PCGG has no money for the upkeep of the
deteriorating mansions, some of which have been looted, which are in prime
locations in Baguio City.
The sequestered properties of Marcos crony Jose Yao Campos and the
3,875-square meter Hans Menzi compound in Outlook Drive are among the mansions
that have been deteriorating.
Campos also surrendered a 2,677-square meter property at the Banaue Inn
compound, a 17,516-square-meter lot at the J.Y. Campos compound and a
1,146-square meter lot at the Wigwam compound – estimated to be worth P154.71
million.
[PHOTO - PROSPECTIVE TOURIST SPOT: One of the Marcos mansions in Baguio
City PHOTO BY ACE ALEGRE]
The PCGG is looking into the privatization of these properties.
Gonzaga said the Hans Menzi property alone, which is up for bidding in March,
could be sold for P36.15 million.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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