Sued Surigao journo feels vindicated

By Roel N. Catoto
Contributor

A JOURNALIST here who was sued for libel after exposing the illegal mining activity allegedly owned by Surigao public officials felt vindicated after the illegal mining controversy reemerged.

Edito Mapayo, editor-publisher of Pinas Balita, a now-defunct weekly local publication, told this writer that he feels free of the trumped-up charge lodged against him.

“As the old saying goes: ‘the naked truth will always prevail, so to speak, and this sets me free now,” said Mapayo on Tuesday afternoon to a few journalists in Surigao City who were solemnly commemorating the infamous Ampatuan Massacre.

Mapayo is currently the station manager of EOS Broadcasting Services with three radio stations operating in Surigao del Norte.

Mapayo did a follow-up story in his local newspaper, dated February 8-14, 2016 alleging the non-payment of the mining company for the actual damages to the landowners in Barangay Jubgan, San Francisco in Surigao del Norte.

Surimin Mining Corporation is owned by incumbent Dapa Mayor Elizabeth Matugas, the sister of Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco T. Matugas and three-term Surigao City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas, now the incumbent vice-mayor of Surigao City.

The case is still pending at the Regional Trial Court Branch 29 in Surigao City. Aside from Mapayo, his two co-workers, Paul Bongcaros and Joselito Ramirez were also charged.

Based on the copy obtained by this writer, Matugas denied the allegations on the story published.

Matugas accused the three of allegedly “conspiring and confederating with each other, knowingly, intentionally, and feloniously, with intent to discredit or cause dishonor or contempt.”

She alleged that “the wicked article of the respondents portrayed me as a villain, a swindler, and a cheat. The ignominy of it all is the fact that I was not even involved in the supposed illegal transactions.”

The businesswoman also claimed that the report on a “trivialized alleged event” that transpired in 2014 was obviously meant to discredit her in the coming elections.

But Mapayo said the complaint filed by Matugas should not have gone to court because their story was “not libelous.”

He said the article, “based on an interview with a public official involves matters of public concern. It was newsworthy and thus it was only proper and appropriate for us to disclose the story to the public. And there was no malice in our article,” he said.

Aside from the libel case, Matugas filed a separate complaint about a civil case and demanded P5 million for the libel suit against Mapayo and the company.

“I felt thorns were removed to [sic] myself naturally with as the issue re-emerged,” he said. But with the case still on, the suffering continues, he said.

“These trumped-up charges against me and my co-workers will only mean to harass, intimidate and persecute us, it’s a clear manifestation of repression and against the press freedom,” Mapayo said.

Larry Hernadez, Director of the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau in Caraga, said Surimin’s 2014 operations destroyed the area where it operated.

According to Hernandez, Surimin Mining Corporation executed a deed of assignment to Siargao Minerals Properties Corporation over 3,991 hectares traversing San Francisco town and Surigao City. In turn, Siargao Minerals Properties entered into a contract with GoSun Siargao Waves, allowing it to operate on a portion of the area. The latter started mining operations on October 5, Jubgan barangay chair Amalla told this writer on November 6.

Surimin is owned by Dapa Mayor Elizabeth Matugas, sister of Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco T. Matugas and three-term Surigao City mayor, now Vice Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas.

Ramon Gotinga, the incumbent assistant provincial administrator of the local government of the Province of Surigao del Norte, is one of the owners of GoSun Siargao Waves Corporation.

Pinat said that during the dialogue at the Pastoral Center on November 9, representatives of various government agencies confirmed the GoSun Siargao Waves Corporation has no extraction or mining permits.

The firm stopped operating that same day.

Gotinga said promised once they get the pertaining documents, the company will continue to mine the said place.