Early in his presidency, BongBong Marcos issued and Executive Order directing all Local Government Units to stop collecting toll fees in national and local roads in their respective jurisdiction. Upon learning of this order, LGUs and producers and merchants ceased collecting and paying the fees.
In Pantukan, Davao de Oro however, this was not to be the case and it was only exposed recently by the key officials of the local government officials themselves in an attempt to discredit a candidate, Noe Butchoy Taojo, a businessman engaged in mining, who is running for Respresentstive of District 2 in Davao de Oro. It must be mentioned here that the incumbent Mayor of Pantukan, Jong Ceniza, is running for the same post.
In a presscon called by the officials of Pantukan last week, they denigrated Butchoy Taojo for not paying toll fees and for urging other local businessmen especially the small and medium enterprise to just continue operating while their permits are being processed. They also zeroed in on Butchoy alledging that he has not been paying his toll fees in transporting mine ores from his mine site to a processing plant.
In a formal statement issued by Hexat Mining Corporation (HMC) which is owned by Butchoy Taojo the allegations of the local officials are not quite true. The truth is HMC has a business permit. The LGU officials skipped the fact that it took them 10 months to process the permit. HMC filed the renewal of their business operations last January but the permit was only released in October.
This validates the reasons why the local businessmen, especially the small and medium scale enterprises sought the help and intervention of Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Leo A. Magno to address the problems they have with the local government of Pantukan. They complained problems of unconscionable delay in the processing of business permits and collections of fees which the EO issued by President Marcos explicitly directed to be stopped.
In the meeting with MinDa Secretary Magno, it was divulged that HMC was forced to pay the road toll fees. It was also bared that HMC continued to operate even when its permit had expired owing to the delay in processing. Butchoy asserted that he has to continue operating as he employs more than 3,000 people. It is the same concern for his employees that prompted Butchoy to pay the ₱7.2-million road toll fees which Marcos Executive Order already stopped since September 25, 2023 if only to continue with HMC operations.
In retrospect, HMC business operations did not encounter any problem until Butchoy Taojo filed his candidacy as Representative of the 2nd District of Davao de Oro. He was actually a reluctant candidate but he finally decided to run because of the unity ticket that assured those who agreed on the covenant that each will have no political adversary. The Unity Ticket was crafted by former Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy now popularly known as “Papa Gov”. To achieve the desired unity, Papa Gov and his son Tyrone Uy, the incumbent Vice Governor, agreed not to run.
The Unity Ticket based on their covenant follows: For Governor – Ruwel P. Gonzaga; for Vice Governor – Dotdot Gonzaga; for 1st District Representative – Maricar Zamora; for 2nd District Representative -Noe “Butchoy” Taojo.
Everything was all in place and all that was needed was the proclamation and oath-taking of the winners. But everything went awry when on the day of the filing of certificates of candidacy, Zamora broke away from the covenant when her husband, Ruel Mabanglo filed his COC for Governor. Pantukan Mayor Jong Ceniza, who was supposed to seek re-election filed his COC for the 2nd District Representative. On the same day Zamora declared that Ceniza is their group’s bet for Congress in the 2nd District.
The betrayal of the unity covenant shocked Butchoy who, as a businessman, cannot believe that trust and confidence is so easily trashed in a political derby. Nevertheless he moved on. Butchoy who is popularly known in Davao de Oro as a philantrophist was subjected to all sorts of black propaganda. He was terribly hurt but eventually weathered all these.
As the midterm elections come to a close, Butchoy has gained grounds. Naturally charismatic, he is always mobbed by supporters not a few of which were recipients of his acts of charity.
If today he is the object of unjust treatment by LGU officials of Pantukan it only proves his winnability.
On the other hand a question is now being raised: Will not, the officials of Pantukan LGU be sanctioned by the Office of the President for forcing businessmen, Butchoy Taojo included, to pay toll fees which had been ordered stopped by President Marcos? Why would it take months for Pantukan LGU to process business permits? Just asking.
