By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., yesterday confirmed the Provincial Legal Office is currently investigating a quarry operator who used fake quarry coupons, used for the extraction and delivery of sand and gravel, supposedly issued by the provincial government.
“We were informed about it three weeks ago and are coordinating with the Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO),” said Provincial Environmental Management officer, Atty. Wilmon Peñalosa.
He pointed out the issuance of coupons falls under the jurisdiction of the PTO.
The suspect, who was not named, but only identified as being from Kabankalan City and “south of Bacolod,” was, according to the governor, caught with the counterfeit documents and could face charges following the conclusion of an investigation.
Peñalosa added the suspect has since been sent a notification of the violation.
A P15,000 penalty is assessed for the violation, with a second offense entailing the possibility of a permit suspension, and a full permit cancellation on the third offense.
“We are currently monitoring his activities as his permit is suspended and he is being investigated,” Peñalosa said./WDJ