HOUSE SPEAKER Pantaleon D. Alvarez has accused the Floirendo-owned Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (Tadeco) of restricting access to Barangay AO Floirendo within its banana export operations area to maintain political dominance in Panabo City. He said that particular barangay serves as the “determinant factor in every election.” Mr. Alvarez made the accusation during the House committee on good government hearing on the alleged irregularities in the contract between Tadeco and the Bureau of Corrections, which owns the area. The committee motioned to resurvey the total land area of Tadeco, as well as the other private and public properties in the area. A former Panabo City surveyor, Engineer Ruben Tacugue, said that some public roads are inaccessible and guarded by Tadeco-controlled checkpoints. On the other hand, Tadeco President Anthony Alexander N. Valoria explained that the checkpoints were put in place to secure the company’s assets, especially against attacks by the communist New People’s Army. “What is gated is private land,” said Mr. Valoria, adding that the company welcomes a survey of the area. — Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz

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