An anonymous but obvious defender of Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto posted six news reports in our blogspot on what she has done so far since the fish kill in the province.
I had stated before that I will no longer come out with anonymous comments. But in the interest of fairness, this will be an exception.
These are the salient points of the news reports:
Santos Recto formed and dispatched various teams to assist local government units affected by the fish kill in Taal Lake on May 26-27. Two backhoes and several dump trucks were dispatched to Talisay, Laurel and Agoncillo.
My reply: I stand corrected, but not totally, on what I had written in our preceding blog that she has been unusually quiet and there has been no known direct order by her on how to deal with the fish kill.
Not totally because the news reports did not belie what I also wrote that she has not been seen in the areas affected by the fish kill.
Santos-Recto said the dismantling of illegal fish pens in Taal Lake has been the local government’s endeavor for three years, and that “I’m proud to say na libo na din ang aming natanggal na fish pens diyan.”
But as I had written, the news reports DID NOT IDENTIFY even one illegal fish pen owner and what charges, if any, had been filed against that person by Batangas officials.
As I had also cited in our blog “Corruption in Batangas fish kill,” what makes the names of the illegal fish pen owners SO SPECIAL? If indeed thousands of illegal fish pens have been dismantled in Taal Lake, how come there are still a lot?
What makes Santos-Recto, and all concerned Batangas officials, HELPLESS against the illegal fish pens? The news reports didn’t answer this.
Santos-Recto had earlier warned against overfishing in Taal Lake and ordered the reduction of fish pens there. Yet, neither government functionaries nor fish pen owners – heeded her warning, according to the news reports.
So what did she do about it? Did she ask for help from anyone or anybody? If yes, whom did she approach, when and what happened?
If no, then Ate Vi will have a lot of explaining to do.
***
Twenty of our friends on “Vilma Santos-Recto should be probed for fish kill”:
WILLY CAYETANO of Valenzuela City
Very quiet nga sina Ate Vi at Kuya Jess.
SIGRID SMITH of South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Ang alam niya, mag-artista lang. Ang position niyian (dahil lang sa) following. Wala tayong maasahan dyan.
JOSIE PATAWARAN of Hong Kong
Dapat talaga silang magpaliwanag dahiil malalking kawalan sa ating mga mamamayan ang pangyayari.
LUKE VANDELMORZ JANNEIRSTHWORTH
I agree. In the first place. they know na bawal maginvest ang foreign nationals because the law allows only the local people to own fish cages. But Chinese nationals have been allowed to invest in these.
MARIA CRISOSTOMO IBARRA of Manila
Sa fiish kill na ito, sinasabing ang may pakana ay isang Intsik na namuhunan doon sa fishpond na daming laman isda bawat cage. Kailangan din masisisi ang government official ditto. Sino kausap ng Intsik na yan?
RSAL INVICTUS
I’m not a Vilmanian but could you possibly elucidate the participation of the governor in the fish kill? Thank you.
JOE BOY VERA
I believe there is nothing to explain why Vilma should be included in the probe and charges if the evidence warrants. Her authority encompasses the entire province. She should be in the forefront of the campaign to put in place all the regulations and see to it that all livelihood programs operate within limits to prevent the occurrence of a catastrophic phenomenon. Her silence and seeming indifference connotes gross negligence, if not ignorance of the gravity of the situation.
ALEX VERSOZA of Quezon City
Lahat ng may kinalaman - dinadaanan ng permit o dapat dinaanan ng permit. They should all be held liable-accountable to the full extent of the law for malfeasance, misfeasance and non-feasance.
BHABES ORTIZ of Manila
Vilma Santos is the governor but I have not heard from her pa. Ano na ba ang sinabi niya or what action ang ginawa na niya?
MIKI LAUGHLIN
Very true. From top to bottom. No excuses and no exceptions.
SERAFIN TABAN
Does she have the BALLS to do that kind of investigation? The fact that local governments encouraged investors to come in is something they themselves have to be blamed for. If ever there will be an investigation, then it must start from the Governor's table. Don't ever pass the blame, will you!
JOE ALVARADO JR. of Makati
This fish kill is due to mismanaged aquaculture methods.
JAN VICTOR AYSON of Quezon City
Di ba dapat ring isama si Vilma sa imbestigasyon dahiil di niya alam ang mga nangyayari?
TERESITA WOODARD of Gapan, Nueva Ecija
I disagree. Alam iyan ng mga subordinates niya. Sila dapat responsible diyan. Iitinalaga sila sa posisyon nila para magbantay, hindi para tumanggap ng lagay. Magaling na lider si Gov. Vilma. Madami siya natutulungan, hindi lang sa sector na yan.
REBECCA KOOMANS of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Sa Pilipinas, basta sikat doon sila. Mabuti sana kung talagang maganda ang hangarin ng mga iyan para sa bayan.
SHEILA ESPERANZA CIELO TILAN of London, United Kingdom
Ang lagay eh…
SERGIO NEPOMUCENO
This issue is under congressional inquiry. Let the finding merit as to what really caused the fish kill as proven by marine experts, as only experts are credible enough to prove what is to be proven. Insinuations, speculations, finger pointing and politicking will not bring back the fish harvest. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Let the congressional inquiry prove its worth. Let no other inquiry into the matter be resorted to.
EDDIE CALABAZARON
Vilma Santos should be required to explain why this thing happened. Why was the provincial government of Batangas unable to dismantle these illegal fish cages. Ano ginagawa ng provincial agriculturist at yung aquatic division nito? Maraming magkakasakit at mamamatay pag naibenta ang mga isdang ito.
OMAR KRAUTZ of Berlin, Germany
Me bago pa ba? Pare-pareho lang naman ang mga yan. Kapag nakaupo na, iba na tono at paninindigan. Di na kayo nasanay.
FE PACHECO
Is she in town?
Two of our friends on “Save your kids from illegal drugs”
LIZ LINDAIN of Malibu, California, USA
Great! Thanks for the reminder, sir! Permission to share this on my wall.
JERUEL PLAZO of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
First, let us define the role of a provincial governor vis-a-vis that of the mayors and that of the BFAR. Who signed the permits and or licenses to construct fish pens and operate said business. Afterwhich we zero in on those who are so remiss on their duties and responsibilites. Establish their guilt by providing in controvertible proof before the proper venue. This is what we call administration of justice. Facebook cannot pronounce judgment of guilt nor exoneration. Let anyone with hard facts, facts that can withstand the minutest scrutiny to establish their culpability before a tribunal of justice.
ReplyDeleteLet us consider what the Governor did during her first term in office as Governor of the Province. With her political will, dismantling of Illegal Cages were done thru the Task Force Taal Lake. and even up to this time inventory of cages are being done. We have other national agencies included in the Task Force, DENR and BFAR to name a few. And they knew that what the Governor wanted since the start is to regulate the number of fish cages in the lake...she is in constant communication with the mayors whose jurisdiction includes that of the lakeshore...and they knew the Gov's stand when it comes to the cages...that they have to follow strictly the allowed number of cages in their areas...do not put the blame on the Governor...it is in fact in her term that the dismantling of cages took place...because she wants to preserve the beauty of Lake Taal...you can visit our Batspio FB account to check on what she has done so far, for you to realize that she is a WORKING GOVERNOR...thanks...
ReplyDeletehow true are rumors then that certain fishpen owners are foreigners using Pinoys as their front?just asking,okay?
ReplyDeleteHalos lahat po ng fishpen operators ay Foreigners, at ang pag papabaklas ng mga ito ni ate Vi ay pawang publicity gimmick lamang, nagbabanggan sila ng mga mayors na involved di dahila sa environmental concern kundi sa partehan.Let me explain, bawa't mayor ay may quota from DENR on how many fishpen they can allow to construct,ang allowable limit qouta ay kinukuha ng gobernador at ang tolerance lang ang napupunta sa mga mayor, ano hilo? papayag ng ganoong set up so ang resulta, wala nang limit sa pagpapatyo ng fish pens, kaya ang sinasabing illegal fish pens ni ate vi ay iyong di dumaan sa kanyang opisina na dumaan sa opisina ng mga mayors. kaya ang gamot dyan ay tanggalin lahat as in lahat, at ang pumalag ay bahagi rin ng corrupt na kaisipan.
ReplyDeleteDamn if you do, damn if you don't... ngayon naman sinabihan na publicity gimmick lang ni Gov. Vi ang pagbabaklas ng mga fishpens. Gagaling ninyo manghusga kayo na lang nga ang maging gobernador tignan lang natin kung ano ang magagawa ninyo!
ReplyDeleteGanyan naman talaga ang mga Pinoy. Puro pambabtikos ang alam gawin hindi naman sila nakakatulong.
ReplyDeleteHindi madali ang ginagawa ni Gov Vi dahil dapat niyang balansehen ang kagustuhan niyang panatilihin ang kagandahan ng Taal Lake at siguraduhing mappu-protektahan niya ang kabuhayan ng mga taong umaasa sa pangingisda sa Taal Lake.
Sinasabing mga dayuhan daw ang nakikinabang? Alam ng marami na mahirap kalabanin ang mga sindikato dito sa Pinas pero kahit ganun ay pinipilit pa rin ni Ate Vi na tutulan ang pagdami ng mga illegal fish pen sa Taal Lake.
Hindi lang naman sa Batangas nagka fish kill. Kahit sa ibang lugar ay nagka fish kill na rin. Kaya it's unfair na lahat na lang ay isisi ninyo kay Gov Vi.
Nemesio antonio, jr, papansin ka ah.
ReplyDeleteWala kang future sa plano mong puntahan.
magkano binayad sa iyo ng kalaban???
This is a natural phenomenon, tandang nemesio.
ReplyDeleteat hindi lang sa batangas nangyayari ito. kaya magtigil ka sa ilusyon mong sumikat!!
Speech of Gov. Vi (June 13, 2011)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG6CLY6530c&feature=player_embedded