'WHAT FOR?'
Whistle-blower does not trust Capitol probe team

By Erly C. Garcia and Florence F. Hibionada

There is no chance whistle-blower Niel “Lito” Jimena would appear before the investigating panel formed by Gov. Niel Tupas, Sr. to probe the controversial quarry dummy issue.

Reached by The News Today through phone, Jimena said there is no more need for him to appear in the investigation since he has already given the facts in his previous media interviews.

“I have said it all. What else do I have to say?” Jimena said.

He further said that he might be incriminating himself when he appear before the probe panel since he does not have a lawyer.

“I cannot afford to hire a lawyer for myself,” he quipped.

Jimena said it is Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada that should be investigated and not him.

“I only exposed their anomalies, it's up for the investigating team to find out for themselves Mejorada's involvement,” he said.

Jimena denied that he is in hiding after he exposed over the radio that he was used by Mejorada as a “dummy” in his quarry business dealings.

He also denied rumors that he was paid P100,000 to keep his mouth shut and not appear in the investigation anymore.

Jimena asserted that he was only seeking justice when he exposed to the media the alleged anomaly.

The ten-day investigation conducted by a three-man team headed by Provincial Legal Office Chief lawyer Salvador Cabaluna, resumes today (June 24) with Jimena, Mejorada and quary permittee Raul Violanda as invited resource persons.

In an earlier interview, Cabaluna told The News Today many questions remain hanging and adds up with Jimena a no-show in the past two hearings. Should and if he finally shows up, he will be asked regarding the documents on hand submitted by Sol Sucaldito, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) chief.

Yet foremost of the matter to be resolved is whether irregularities and illegalities were indeed present in the issuance of permits to Jimena and the other permittees in question. To note, Jimena's media pronouncements put the provincial administrator in bad light charging the governor's closest aide as the real man behind several quarry operations in the province.

Mejorada, should he also appear in the hearing will be asked for his side while Violanda for his part will be made to clarify his own quarry operations in Barangay Pianda-an Sur, Alimodian, Iloilo. Documents obtained by the PLO probe team disclosed Violanda's waiver of rights granted in favor of Jimena and his appointment as attorney-in-fact.

In Tuesday's investigation, Violanda failed to come and sent an emissary, Dante Dilag. The probe team decided to pack-up though with Cabaluna saying there was nothing to continue with but will exhaust all efforts in bringing the main characters to the table.

Thing is, he pointed out, the body has no “coercive” or contempt powers thus left to sending an invite only and not a subpoena.

“(But) We will try to be resourceful should Mr. Jimena not come at all,” the PLO chief ended while adding that by the end of the probe period, they will base their recommendations on the documents and statements available.