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Thursday, February 03, 2005
N. Mindanao guvs: Miriam a 'misguided missile'
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
* Officials label Santiago's expose as diversionary tactic
* However Moreno says senator's claims worth investigating
FIVE Northern Mindanao governors accused by Senator Miriam Santiago as engaged in illegal logging dismissed Tuesday the senator's claim as baseless saying she could have been fed wrong information.
They also said that by issuing this claim the senator tried to divert the public's attention away from a similar issue involving her nephew, Environment Secretary Michael Defensor and fellow senator, Jamby Madrigal.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro gathered these sentiments in separate interviews with Governors Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental and Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin, and Representatives of Jose Ma. Zubiri of Bukidnon, Imelda Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte and Loreto Ocampos of Misamis Occidental.
It was only Moreno who expressed openness to a Senate investigation just to clear any doubt on his person.
Moreno and Romualdo both said Santiago's accusations are without any basis and might just be a "diversionary tactic" for her to channel the public's attention from the ranging war between Defensor and Madrigal, which also concerns illegal logging.
Moreno nevertheless said there might still be a grain of truth somewhere in Santiago's report that warrants a Senate investigation.
"Bisan tuod ug irresponsible sa kinatibuk-an ang iyang gisulti still basin naay tinood gamay niadto so mas maayo nga imbestigahan gihapon sa Senado (Despite how Senator Santiago's statements were irresponsible still there might be some small truth in it so it is still best that it should be investigated by the Senate)," he said.
Talking nonsense
Romualdo for his part said nobody really believed Santiago's words particularly when they speak of illegal logging in Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Camiguin.
"We thought she (Santiago) is a dedicated and good environmental advocate but now she is nothing but a misguided missile," he said.
He added that Santiago even forgot to include Lanao del Sur where most of the illegal loggers are reportedly operating.
Romualdo said he created a task force in Camiguin province that is concerned with illegal fishing, illegal gambling, illegal drugs and illegal logging.
He said this group is even tasked to apprehend any person who would cut trees in his own private land without permit.
"And if these people who are cutting down trees from their own private lands are given permit we installed measures to make sure that whatever trees cut remains here in our small island (Camiguin)," he said.
Zubiri's information officer also reported that his governor also was caught by surprise when he saw his name among Santiago's list as one of the alleged provincial governors who is into illegal logging.
He said his governor is now calling on Santiago to be "responsible" with her words and even challenged her to prove her point.
Dimaporo for her part spoke through her provincial information officer Richelieu Umel who also denied that their Lanao del Norte governor is into illegal logging.
"Gapataka raman kana si Senator Meriam (Senator Meriam Santiago is talking nonsense)," he said.
Chainsaws
In the absence of an interview with Governor Ocampos, his aunt Marietta Ocampos defended the governor of Misamis Occidental.
She said the governor could not be into illegal logging.
"Before Senator Santiago issues such statements she should first check out her sources and get ground information...what she said was highly irresponsible," she said.
Last Monday, Santiago delivered a privilege speech during their Senate session.
Her speech tagged several governors and past governors in the different provinces in the entire country who she alleged are involved or are protectors of illegal loggers.
"Hindi naman sila mga bingi na hindi nila marinig 'yong mga chainsaws (It is not as if these governors are deaf that they cannot hear the chainsaws cutting down the trees in the different areas in their respective provinces)," she had said.
Santiago then enumerated the provinces she believes are ruled over by former or incumbent governors who are into illegal logging. It saw print in the Philippine Daily Inquirer Tuesday.
Among the names were: Governors Zubiri of Bukidnon (2001-01) and ex-Governor Carlos Fortich (1998-2001), Governor Romualdo of Camiguin (1998-2007), Governor Ocampos (2001-2006) and ex-Governor Ernie Clarete (1998-2000), Governor Moreno of Misamis Oriental (2004-2007) and ex-Governor Antonio Calingin (1998-2004), Governor Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte (1998-2007).
(February 2, 2005 issue)
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