Thursday, February 07, 2008 Lawyer warns oil extraction in Tañon Strait worse than drilling, which has stopped By Katrina N. Tabanao Sun.Star Staff Reporter
ENVIRONMENTALISTS warned yesterday that the worst is yet to come even if the oil drilling in Tañon Strait already ended.
Lawyers Antonio Oposa and Benjamin Cabredo said that if results will show that indeed there is oil in Tañon Strait, this means the work will continue but this time there will be underwater extraction, which is worse than the oil drilling itself.
Cabredo also clarified that the stoppage of work by Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (Japex) will not affect the two petitions filed before the Supreme Court by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines- National Environment Action Team.
Listed as petitioners in the case were resident marine mammals, protected seascape, such as toothed whales, dolphins, porpoises and other cetacean species.
Japex has temporarily closed the drilled area. In 10 days it will be known if there are oil and gas deposits in Tañon Strait.
Prayer
“Only the prayer for the issuance of the temporary restraining order will be affected because with the recent development there is nothing to restrain anymore,” said Cabredo.
“But if we will win, then there will be no more extractions from the Tañon Strait,” he said.
Cabredo and Oposa were among those present when Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia declared yesterday an all-out war against violators of the Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
The Cebu Provincial Government, in coordination with the Visayan Sea Squadron, decided to conduct massive land, air and sea operations against violators.
Garcia and Oposa warned all those involved in the illegal fishing activities that their happy days will soon be over.
“Pagbantay mo kay dili (You watch out because it’s not only a) warrant of arrest ang among dad-on (that we will bring) kon dili mga iro, mga sniffing dogs nga maoy motudlo namo asa ang mga gamit sa (to lead us to where there are equipment for) illegal fishing activities, og naay makit-an sa inyong mga balay, dakpon mo diretso (if we find it in your house, we’ll arrest you right away),” said Oposa.
The lawyer also warned the mayors present during yesterday’s meeting to do their duty of protecting the seas under their jurisdiction.
Oposa told Bantayan Mayor Geralyn Escario, Medellin Mayor Ricky Ramirez and all the other chief executives present that under the law, they are liable for all illegal fishing activities in their area of responsibility.
“Pasensyahay gyud ta ani kay maapil gyud mo sa kaso (You’ll be included in the cases),” the lawyer said.
Oposa also disclosed that the Visayan Sea Squadron will now conduct the inventory of all the fishing vessels in the province that have permits.
In a memorandum of agreement signed in 2006, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources was tasked to do the inventory but submitted no report.
