Naga Mayor Denies Railroading Mayor’s Permit

City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong denied he railroaded the issuance of mayor’s permit to Petronas as alleged by a Pryce Gas executive.

“Every action I make, naa gyud na’y basehan. But that’s one (of)the hazards to our trade,” said Chiong in reference to the complaint filed against him.

Darwin Sarraga, assistant vice president for corporate administrative services department of Pryce Gases, Inc., filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against Chiong and his administrator Arthur Villamor for allegedly issuing a mayor’s permit to Petronas despite the latter’s alleged lack of requirements.

Chiong clarified that he issued a conditional permit to Petronas being an investor, but only after the Naga Fire Department and the Bureau of Fire and Protection 7 gave a clearance to the company.

He said Pryce Gas, which questioned Petronas’ existence, elevated its complaint to BFP national, which, later on, reversed the findings earlier issued by the Naga Fire Department and the BFP 7.

The mayor said he has yet to receive a copy of this decision.

“I’m going to reassess my position,” Chiong said.

After completing all the requirements,Chiong said he gave Petronas a conditional permit even if its expiry is still due on October. But Chiong said he may revoke it anytime, like what he did to Pryce Gas, when it was earlier found out that failed to comply with the Fire Code.

Chiong said he was only caught between two colliding stones.

“Away na sa Pryce Gas ug Petronas, naangin lang ta,” he said.