Fishermen vow to hound Defensor over 2005 environment disasters

What graceful exit?

Militant fisherfolk yesterday vowed to hound outgoing Environment Secretary Michael Defensor over last year’s environmental disasters.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said yesterday that they are poised to file criminal and graft charges against Defensor over four environmental disasters — the flashfloods in Mindoro Oriental, the arsenic poisoning of water in artesian wells near a dumpsite in Obando, Bulacan, the mine spill on Rapu-Rapu island and the oil drilling and exploration in the Tañon Strait between Cebu and Negros in the Visayas.

"The filing of criminal and graft charges against Secretary Defensor is (being seriously) considered by our group," Pamalakaya chairman Fernando Hicap said. "We cannot allow him to go scot-free... The search for justice must continue."

Hicap said Defensor should be held responsible for these disasters. The Mindoro Oriental flooding was blamed on indiscriminate logging, though Defensor earlier said heavy rainfall was the cause of the flashfloods.

Hicap also said Defensor imposed a five-year fish ban in the Visayan Sea to allow the oil drilling and gas explorations in Tañon Strait, an area protected for its marine biodiversity.

"Our chapters in these provinces have agreed and we will consult lawyer-allies on when to file the appropriate charges against Secretary Defensor," Hicap said.

The charges against Defensor will be filed before the Office of the Ombudsman on or before Feb. 24, to coincide with Pamalakaya’s Visayas-wide fluvial protest against the oil drilling and gas exploration project in Tañon Strait.

"It’s payback time," Hicap said.

Defensor will file a leave from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) this week to focus on working with President Arroyo, possibly as her chief of staff.

Malacañang is reportedly set to issue Defensor’s new appointment papers anytime this week.

Defensor has already named his three top choices as officer-in-charge of the DENR: Undersecretary for forestry and environment Ramon Paje, Undersecretary for policy and planning Demetrio Ignacio and Undersecretary for management and technical services Armando de Castro.

Paje is the most senior of Defensor’s three choices, while De Castro is one of Defensor’s long-time associates.