POLITICAL DISASTER FOR GOV. VI!

To those who keep on insulting and cursing me, including one who has just made a CHILDISH THREAT, for my blogs on Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos Recto and the fish kill that struck the province, thank you for KEEPING ME MOTIVATED to pursue the issue as far as I could.

As I’ve said in my preceding blog, I’ll play this game of yours, FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANT us to.

Now, read this!

Whether you realize it or not, YOUR CONTINUED REFUSAL, and those of concerned officials, to answer my queries on the owners of illegal fish pen owners is leading your beloved governor to POLITICAL DISASTER!

The ILLEGALITY of some fish pens HAS NOT BEEN DENIED by anyone.

One of you even wrote to me, and I came out with it in a previous blog, that a 90-day grace period given to illegal fish pen owners was about to expire when the fish kill struck.

Which brings me down to just four questions: WHO are these illegal fish pen OWNERS? WHY CAN’T, OR WON’T, anybody name them? Were charges ever filed against them? What makes them UNSTOPPABLE?

NO ONE has given a reply to all these.

Anything ILLEGAL is UNLAWFUL. Anything unlawful must be STOPPED at once. To stop anything unlawful, those behind it must be identified. But you people WON’T DO THAT. In effect whether you admit it or not, you are PROTECTING THESE LAWBREAKERS, initially from the public eye.

Here are quotes from two of your legions and the names they gave:

JEFFREY TEODORO: To hell with you. Salamat ka at civilized pa ako sa mga sagot ko or else nabasa mo ang di dapat mabasa na below the belt. Bakit mo ba pinipilit na malaman ang mga pangalan ng mga businessmen who own those illegal fish cages?. (Sino tinatakot mo sa akala mo?)

MARLENE PASCUAL

You want the names of the illegal fish pen owners to be revealed so badly, then why don't you do it yourself? You make it sound so easy (I’m starting to try that, believe me)

If you people will say that Gov. Vi, or the provincial government for that matter is helpless, the national offices of key government agencies can help like the DENR, BIR, PNP and NBI.

But whoever it will be, they can only help if they’ll know WHO TO RUN AFTER.

If illegal fish pen owners will remain anonymous, it will be an issue against your governor in the 2013 polls. Gov. Vi may be enjoying immense popularity now, yes, but once Batanguenos get tired of illegal fish pens, A SOLUTION will be more important for them than one’s popularity.

And don’t tell me your fellow Batanguenos will never get tired.

Even if I’m not form Batangas, I’ll bet a thousand to one that NOT ALL BATANGUENOS DEPEND on illegal fish pens for their LIVELIHOOD, and that the popularity your governor enjoys now IS NOT 100 PERCENT.

And before I forget, ask whoever that Sanchez is to thank you guys for the FREE INTERNET PUBLICITY your giving him or her by repeatedly mentioning the name in your comments as my employer.

I don’t work for anybody in this issue. Verify it, now.

***

Nine of our friends on “A test for Gov. Vi on illegal fish pens!”:

JOSEPH WATT of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

You do whatever your brother/friend Jesus commands you n your heart to do, my brother, my friend.

ARMANDO CONTI San Francisco,California, USA

Paano mo mapapatanggal iyong illegal fish pen kung nagbabayad naman ng permit sa gobyerno? Ayon kasi sa mayor ng Talisay ay nagbabayad daw ng permit at tinatanggap daw nila yong pera sa kadahilanang kailangan ng bayan. Wala namang illegal kung may permit at bayad sa bayan kaya nga di pwedeng sabihin na ibigay ang pangalan nila. Ang solusyon diyan, iyong may ari ng libo libong fishpen ay ipakita sa TV na ipinapatanggal ni Ate Vi iyong ilang fish pen niya.

VIRGINA ADUCA of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

So many factors that caused the fish kill": overcrowded (fish pens), mother nature and human error. Kung may alam pa kayo. then add ninyo.

ALBERTO LEE of Houston, Texas, USA

Viva, Antonio.

JOHN BRUCE

What's all the fuss about? All they have to do is dismantle those illegal fish pens.

SERGIO NEPOMUCENO

Sometimes the naked truth is just that - naked. We must not be racists. "Mga Intsik na negosyante" is an affront to all the Chinese here. There may be Chinese involved, but surely a Filipino is in cahoots. Let the office of primary responsibility get the "ball rolling" to unearth every angle of the fish kill.

TERESITA WOODARD of Gapan, Nueva Ecija

It's about time bigyan ng leksiyon ang mga Intsik na negosyante (sa illegal fish pens). Hindi sila ang masusunod. Ang masusunod, ang gobyerno,

MARLENE DAMOLO HOWE of Tacoma, Washinton, USA

I've read before that the governor was in the crusade of abolishing illegal fish pens. Why it thrives, I can only blame the local residents who allowed themselves to be used by unscrupulous businessmen. But because Gov. VI is the head of the province, the blame ultimately falls on her. It's saddening because it's hard to monitor every citizen if the person does not want to do the right thing in the first place. It's like a cat and mouse game!

DOC C ELEDA PERA of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sana ang page na ito ay maraming matulungan at maraming magising ang kamalayan sa mga nangyayari sa ating bansa!

DELIA SANIDAD of Santiago, Ilocos Sur on “To Drilon and Lacierda: Be truthful, and fair!”:

Drilon and Lacierda to be truthful and fair? Aren’t we expecting too much, Mr. Boyet? 30

A TEST FOR GOV. VI ON ILLEGAL FISH PENS!

Supporters of Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, most of them anonymous, continue to hurl personal insults against me, and keep on insisting that I shouldn’t blame the governor for the fish kill.

Even though our blogs clearly show that I never blamed the governor in any manner whatsoever. So with your permission, boys and girls, let me play their game.

Since Gov. Vi’s loyalists swear to high heavens that she is as serious as hell in wiping out illegal fish pens, let’s see if she’ll further prove her sincerity with this:

Let the governor PERSONALLY LEAD the demolition of illegal fish pens, especially the ones affected by the fish kill, THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE.

Vilma in the water, with AS MANY WORKERS AND SECURITY AIDES – whether personal bodyguards or policemen and soldiers – personallu tearing down illegal fish pens

Considering the nature and extent of the tragedy, the illegal dish pens MUST GO A.S.A.P! Let’s see how soon is A.S.A.P as far as the governor and her people are concerned.

A supporter of Vilma sent a comment saying that the fish kill struck before the 90-day grace period given to illegal fish pen owners expired.

But with the fish kill, it would be justified to still observe that deadline and start destroying the illegal fish pens.

If there would be questions on legality, let’s see if the governor will have the initiative to IMMEDIATELY seek remedies with the court just to get rid of the illegal fish pens AT ONCE.

And the most important of all, two points which I had raised right from the start but has never been answered by the governor’s supporters:

Let’s see if the NAMES OF ILLEGAL FISH PEN OWNERS WILL FINALLY BE REVEALED this time.

And charges, or any other LEGAL ACTION, will finally be initiated against them.

To Gov. Vi’s fanatics: ANSWER THESE ISSUES on the illegal fish pen owners first. And READ MY BLOGS, before you MALICIOUSLY ACCUSE me of anything.

To the guy who calls himself Prof. Edu Piano:

HOW DARE YOU accuse me of pointing an accusing finger, of being irrresponsible in my statements and of ‘paninira.’

For a professor (if you really are), how DISAPPOINTING that you apparently did not understand the HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH that I used in writing my blogs on the governor.

I never accused the governor of anything. Go over my blogs AGAIN.

I asked questions on illegal fish pen owners – their identities, their being unstoppable, charges, if any, which have been filedagainst them and other related issues.

If asking questions is THE SAME as ACCUSING for your NARROW MIND, then that is your problem, and TRAGEDY, NOT MINE. Same thing if trying to clarify matters is the same as an irresponsible statement for your poor comprehension of the English language.

YOU’RE THE ONE WHO’S IRRESPONSIBLE, and UNPROFESSIONAL, for prejudging my character and credibility as a writer WITHOUT THE CIVILITY of asking me CLARIFICATORY QUESTIONS first.

For a professor, SHAME ON YOU! 30

I

TO DRILON AND LACIERDA: BE TRUTHFUL, AND FAIR!

To Sen. Franklin Drilon and Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda: Be TRUTHFUL and FAIR, please.

Sen. Drilon was quoted in newspaper reports as saying that it was the former president, and not President Aquino, who was guilty of appointing her friends and cronies to key public posts.

Let’s be TRUTHFUL, and FACTUAL, Mr. Drilon.

GMA indeed appointed friends of hers, and even of her husband’s, to key government posts. But Pnoy has his own share of personal friends, and even those of her mother Cory, whom he have placed in key positions.

Don’t tell us, senator, that you’re not aware that Executive Sec. Paquito Ochoa, Interior and Local Governments Undersecretary Rico Puno and Land Transportation Office (LTO) head Virgie Torres are long-time personal friends of President Aquino.

Puno and Torres are even shooting range buddies of the President, senator. Are you saying you didn’t know that? Does it mean that you don’t consider Executive Secretary, DILG undersecretary and LTO chief key government posts?

Let us also not forget Philippne Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) boss Margie Juico, the wife of Philip who was an Agrarian Reform secretary during Cory’s term.

Or resigned Bureau of Corrections chief Ernesto Diokno, whom Pnoy personally acknowledged as a friend.

Except for Diokno, Ochoa, Puno and Juico ARE STILL IN THEIR POSTS. Torres is only on leave. If these people are not friends and appointees of Pnoy, how will you describe them to reconcile with your statement, Mr. Drilon?

fMalacañang instead challenged members of the minority bloc in the House of Representatives to produce results rather than try to get media mileage.

Lacierda was quoted in the newspapers as saying it is not the task of the Church to set forth political solutions and to propose a single solution as the acceptable one/

This is NOTHING LESS than putting a LIMITATION on the FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION of the Church. I wonder if Lacierda can produce any law, whether provided for in the Constitution or decreed by the Church itself, which justifies his DICTATORIAL pronouncement.

I’m not a lawyer but I’ll bet a thousand to one, the Church is AS FREE as any other ordinary mortal to say what they want to say.

Anybody correct me if I’m wrong but it’s only under communism or a dictatorship wherein there are limitations to what one can say when it comes to politics and the state.

If Lacierda’s line of thinking will be followed, then the Aquino Government has NO RIGHT TO SAY ANYTHING about the Church.

Lacierda also described as lies a supposed ouster move against Pnoy and allegations cited by minority bloc congressmen in asking for a probe of the President’s buddies.

Question: Do you have proof to the contrary regarding the supposed oouster pot, Mr. Lacierda? If the allegations being cited by minority bloc are lies, then let a congressional investigation prove it. Don’t block it.

The Aquino Administration does not have a MONOPOLY OF THE TRUTH.

****

Thirteen of our friends on “I never blamed Gov. Vi for the fish kill”:

MARIA CRISOSTOO IBARRA of Manila

Heto lang para mas maikli..yong nangyaring fishkill, dapat ang mga pinunong iyan MAGBITIW. Kasi, bakit nakapagpatayo ng maraming fishpen diyan e kalculado na yan. Di maaaring marami dahil macocongest ang mga isda. Very elementary right?

VIRGILIO PERALES of Bogo, Cebu

Those people are either onion-skinned or paranoid.

ALICE YANQUIN of Quezon City

KSP lang iyan. Mga narrow-minded.

RSAL INVICTUS

Pasalamat ka at may nagagalit sa blog. Ibig sabihin nyan may matinding tinamaan, and YOU HAVE ARRIVED. Well as my friend lij says, hell is empty, the devils are here. Maganda siguro, padala natin sa Kalayaan Islands at maglaro ng sungka sa mga Tsino.

MANUEL ESQUIVIAS

If you’re not sure of their identities, don't bother to answer them. Sayang lang oras mo. Your article was very objective and I can't find anything wrong or accusatory. Perception lang talaga ng reader.

SISINIO JUBAN

Ineffectiveness is when you’re not always around. Human beings are designed for a single task. Only God is everywhere, anytime.

ANDY SANCHEZ

I agree with you. The kind of people defending Gov. Vilma Santos may betray what kind of a person she is.

LEIRAM DIM

Sa nangyaring fish kill sa Batangas, ang dapt sisihin ay ang mga illegal na nagmamay ari ng mga fishpen at ang ibang mamumuhunan. May itinalagang dami ng isda para alagaan sa isang fish cage pero dahil sa gustung kumita ng malaki di sila sumusunod.I n fairness naman sa pamumuno ni Gov Vi, isa ako sa naging saksi kung gaano siya ka-sincere sa kaniyang panunungkulan sa lalawigan.

CHIQUI APE

Being too defensive is a sign of hiding something and feeling guilty.

INDAY ROSE CASTEEL

She is an actress, not a politician. Kaya lang iyan pumasok at nanalo dahil asawa siya ni Recto. How can (illegal) fish cages be there without the Batangas Governor’s knowledge? I don't buy that. It’s all a conspiracy and when the money making pit went haywire, no one can do anything. People are concerned about their livelihood so of course you will hear noises.

DAHLEE LOPEZ JURADO-BABAAN of Bustos, Bulacan

I feel sad that those in power are sometimes (or most of the time) open arms in approving proposals like fish pens in Taal Lake. B,ut when bad effects arise from those projects, they close their eyes to their responsibilities.

ESTHER UY-OCO of Oceanside, California, USA

Gising tayo, mga Batangueno. Bantayan natin ang ating paligid. Bakit kayo napayag ng ganyan? Alangang taga-mindanao pa ang magtiyaga.

REBECCA KOOMANS of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Kahit si Vilma pa siya, she has to be sure na alam niya ang nangyayari.

Two of our friends on “Vilma Santos Recto should be probed fish kill”:

NIQUEKY LAU

There's a Senate inquiry on this issue. Funny because others claimed climate change or over crowded (fish cages), according to a UP scientis. Eh sabi nga ni Sen. Pangilinan, mga GANID -- gusto agad nila kumita ng malaki sa maikling panahon.

BARRON ROLLI

Ganid sa tubo. Gahaman. 30

I NEVER BLAMED GOV. VI FOR FISH KILL!

Let’s be very clear, boys and girls.

I AM NOT BLAMING Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos for the fish kill that had struck the province. I never did and before anyone accuses me of such, that person had better READ FIRST all my preceding blogs on the issue and see for himself or herself.

I don’t work for any CONFIRMED OR PERCEIVED opponent of Santos-Recto, as MALICIOUSLY AND BASELESSLY alleged by someone who didn’t even have THE GUTS to identify himself or herself, and anybody can verify this anytime, anywhere,

I’m only asking VITAL QUESTIONS related to the fish kill which have been UNANSWERED SO FAR, like why have there been NO REPORTS OF CHARGES FILED against owners of illegal fish pens and why not even one owner has been named up to now. Another thing – why are Batangas officials seemingly helpless against illegal fish pens, which keep on coming back?

I am NOT SAYING that Santos-Recto is not a working, or a hard-working governor. I have come out with an anonymous defense of the governor in this blog, even if I had declared before that I will no longer come out wit anonymous comments.

So before anyone else speaks up, READ FIRST my previous blogs and try to remember what COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY MEANS.

***

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.

***

EFREN CORDERO PIMENTEL of Silang, Cavite

Government leaders of Batangas, please avoid involving Chinese nationals in business in Taal Lake. Enough of the Chinese greedi and unconcern for the environment. Please ban them - -they will become your worst nightmare. Good strategic development interventions should be considered for Taal Lake, like the following: Updated research on the capacity for fish pens, a local policy framework, regular monitoring systems for the quality of the water and intensified environmental education.

JING SEGISMUNDO

During her first term, dismantling of illegal (fish) cages were done thru Task Force Taal Lake. 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 know 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. Tthey know the Gov's stand when it comes to the cages, that they have to follow strictly the allowed number 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. You can visit our Batspio FB account to check on what she has done so far.

JOE BOY VERA

The anonymous defender is clearly evading the issue of command responsibility by finger pointing and citing occurrence of similar incidents. Whereas it is clearly established that the cause is man- made, out of greed and could have been prevented if only the government offices concerned, including the Office of the Governor, were responsible enough to do their jobs.

EDWIN ZABARTE

Sir, with due respect:

Ang may responsibilidad ng municipal waters around Taal Lake ay local government units. Sila po ang nag-issue ng permits sa mga fish pen operators before Gov. Santos Recto became governor.Then, sa kaniyang term ay binuo ang Task Force Taal Lake to oversee the condition ng lawa and regulate ang number of fish pens. Nag start ang operations ng task force on June 12, 2009. The provincial government, together with the DENR, BFAR, PNP, Philippine Coast Guard and NGOs like Tanggol Kalikasan ay nag conduct ng operations clearing the lake of illegal fish pens/cages.. May documents and proof/ materials kami na magpapatunay diyan. We were about to clear the lake of its 1200 illegal cages. Nag-advise ang provincial government sa mga fish pen operators na walang permit to voluntarily dismantle ang kanilang illegal structure before May 31. Ninety-day extension ang hiningi ng mga operators.dahil yun daw ang kanilang time para sa full harvest growth ng kanilang isda.. Both parties agreed. If hindi maharvest after the deadline, the TF will take action and kakasuhan ang mga ilegal fish pen operators and confiscation ng kanilang fish cage materials, including the fish inside the cages.. Then, nagkaroon ng fish kil. TF Taal Lake ay seryoso in getting rid of those illegal structures before the fish kill so hindi po accurate na ma accuse kami ng corruption dito.

DOC C ELEDA PERA of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

I think Gov. Vi really needs to explain about that thing. Sobrang dami na ng affected ng fish kill na iyan.

ESTHER UY-OCO of Oceanside, California, USA

Something is wromg. Bakit ngayon lang iyan (naexpose). Bakit dami diyang Chinese? We don’t need them. Ang daming Pilipinong mangingisda.

DELIA SANIDAD of Santiago, Ilocos Sur

Command responsibility dictates that the Governor has to be on top of what's going on in her turf.

MARLENE HOWE of Tacoma, Washington, USA

I read In the news last year about Gov. Vi's efforts to dismantle all fish pens in Taal (Lake). But if it’s the people whose intentions are to put them up everytime they’re dismantled it's a hard job to monitor. The Governor is ultimately responsible since she is the head of the province. But we also need to punish severely those who broke and refused to follow the law. 30

WEAK DEFENSE BY GOV. VI'S SUPPORTER (S)!

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

Very well said, sir. I firmly agree with you. 30

VILMA SANTOS RECTO SHOULD BE PROBED FOR FISH KILL!

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos Recto must be investigated for the fish kill that has struck the province.

Santos and for that matter, all the mayors and local officials of the areas affected by the fish kill. Related to this, Interior and Local Government Sec. Jessie Robredo should explain why has there been no wide-ranging probe of the liability of local government officials in the fish kill.

More and more people are asking why has Vilma been unusually quiet about the fish kill.

She hasn’t been seen in any area that has been c rippled by the fish kill, even in the last three towns where the phenomenon had spread. Neither has there been any known direct action or order by her on how to deal with the fish kill and the affected residents or workers.

Considering the extent of the damage and scope of the fish kill, Vilma should have been among, if not THE FIRST, to take over the situation since she is the governor.

She’s THE BOSS of the province. One way or another, she has to be AN ACTIVE player in the crisis but so far, SHE’S NOT!

Add to this the INACTION, so far, of Batangas officials against owners of illegal fish pens which contributed to the fish kill. No names and no legal action by Batangas officials have been reported so far.

If there is, I’d gladly come out with it.

But in Talisay town alone, news reports say there were as many as 329 illegal and overstocked fish pens. As I wrote in our preceding blog, illegal fish pens are HIGHLY VISIBLE STRUCTURES!! How come these remained UNTOCUEHD until the fish kill struck?

Environment and Natural Resources Sec. Ramon Paje had to be the one to order the filing of charges against the owners of illegal fish pens.

WHY can’t Vilma and other Batangas officials do it? Why didn’t they ever since?

Vilma had better realize that the longer she keeps quiet, the more SHE’LL DESTROY HERSELF politically. And don’t be surprised, boys and girls, if eventually her husband, Sen. Ralph Recto, would be accused of protecting her against the fish kill crisis.

***

Twenty of our friends on “Corruption in Batangas fish kill”:

DELIA SANIDAD of Santiago, Ilocos Sur

The greed of these illegal fishpen owners together with their coddlers (local and national government officials) IS so insatiable. Instead of having these dead fishes fed to the crocodiles, why not just throw these people into the crocs. But wait, we might just be putting them where they really belong.

KEITH HARCOURT of Vienna, Austria

Many in the Philippines, sad to say, just worship MONEY and not GOD."For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? --- Matthew 16:26.

RONALD CARPIO of Makati

I’ll drink to that. That is why I created a universal prayer in my status.

MIKII LAUGHLIN

Ang mga trabahador or mangingisda dun, ang sweldo lang ng isang fish pen ni Tan sa Batangas ay P4,500 a month. Dii pa nagababayd ng tax since 1992 ayon sa mga imbestigador.. Tama, sino ang kinakapitan ng Tan na yan at ng ibang illegal fish pen owners?

EFREN CORDERO PIMENTEL of Silang, Cavite

Rest every seven years for every agricultural land, even for Taal Lake, must be observed as commanded by God. Mother Nature bounced back and reminded us of the stupidity and greed of men. More forms of karma are coming for Batangas, and other corruption-infested areas in the Philippines. The lessons of life will give them the hardest hit as a wake up call. No to wickedness and yes to the pathway of righteousness.

VIRGINIA ADUCA of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I'd rather say ignored..

ESTHER UYOCO of Oceanside, California, USA

Maglunsad ng campaign. Bantayan ang Taal ng lahat ng Batangueno. Anong ginagawa ng mga opisyal, lalo na ng gobernador?

ALEX VERSOZA of Qyezon City

The issues are apparently not hard to define. Ang isa, SINO lang ba ang may karapatan na magbigay ng permit? Unity of command yata yon. Authority, Responsibility and the consequent Accountability. Sino ang ACCOUNTABLE, and not kaninong account ipapadala ang galling kay Kabise.

RAMIL GUALBERTO of Munoz, Nueva Ecija

Dahil sa pulitika kaya ganyan ang nangyari. Hinayaan nila na ang mga kapitalista ang magmay ari ng mga fishpond/fish cages.

ANDY SANCHEZ

As per ABS-CBN, it is not the natural depletion of oxygen which caused the fish kill, but the overpopulation of fish in certain cages. Sabi nga ng isang anchor, its man-made. It’s greed!

RSAL INVICTUS

Agree! The cause of the fish kill is greed of investors and owners of fish pens. And to think they are not living in the area around and near the lake or towns. Add to this the politicians’ avarice of an easy life and amassing questionable wealth.

BAL DOMINGO of Quezon City

Greed against greed so everybody becomes greedy, the result of which is fish kill.

CAMON EILLOR

I am one in your conclusion, Sir Boyet. They cannot keep this corrupt practices discreet.

DOC C ELEDA PERA

Ano ba naman Iyan? Nagsusuffer na nga ang mga taga-Batangas kinu -corrupt pa din. Talagang walang patawad.

VILLA VHIL

Fish kill to the corrupt. Peace to all who love and care for our nation.

EDNA MEYER

How good is Vilma Santos as governor?

CESAR CARINO of Bauan, Batangas

Killing fish is more than corruption. I am more than happy to hear from you again. I am still in the process of trying o prepare the details just for you and your blog. OUR VOICES by BOYET ANTONIO is always a part of my constant prayer and it deserves an enormous place in my heart.

ISAGANI MACARAIG of San Pascual, Batangas

Fish kills are mostly naturally-occurring phenomena. Why are Filipinos always in a huddle to blame potential culprits? Some people (those interviewed on TV) become instant experts as to the reasons why and how it happened. Nakapagbasa lang nang konti,todo paliwanag na agad sa mga pangyayari.

JAN VICTOR AYSON of Quezon City

Tutooo iyan. Maraming sakim na fish pen owners diyan.

JOEFREINE E. VILLACENCIO of Babag, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu

Correct! 30