Carvajal: Ultimate blame

ROY Cimatu’s statement that “typhoon Ompong and not mining caused the landslide” was devastatingly simple-minded of the DENR secretary. The simplest of simpletons could have made that observation. And for someone with his responsibility it was too casual an evasion of the point at issue.

Ompong caused the landslide that killed the small miners but the point is who failed in their responsibility to keep the miners out of harm’s way.

Benguet Corp. deflected arrows of blame by saying they did not allow the small miners to dig for more gold in their abandoned holes. But, who dug, exploited then abandoned those holes without securing them from intrusion or trespass by small miners?

The LGU echoed the mining company’s facile excuse saying they warned the small miners of impending danger from Ompong but the latter refused to listen and stubbornly stayed. It is unbelievable that they consider themselves blameless because they have warned the small miners. Haven’t they heard of forced evacuations? Isn’t government tasked with taking all measures to keep people out of harm’s way?

Yes, Ompong caused the landslide but it was the negligence of these highly placed individuals in government and in mining that placed the small miners in harm’s and, as it turned out in death’s, way. To be sure, the small miners are also at fault. But can you blame disadvantaged and marginalized obscure folks if they clutch at straws or “humawak sa patalim” in their day to day struggle to eke out a living?

In narrow mountain passes, the vehicles on top and going down have to make room and give way to vehicles below that are grunting to go up. It is pathetic to see and hear people on top of mining and of government shake off from their freshly-pressed clothes the dusts of blame for the deaths of people below them.

Yet, it is my considered opinion that the people who are ultimately to blame are comfortably viewing the tragedy in their superbly furnished air-conditioned TV rooms. I am talking of the Commission on Appointments.

It might be recalled here that DENR secretary nominee Gina Lopez had her environmental protection priorities in good order and was effectively hitting these targets. It doesn’t take rocket science to conclude that Ms. Lopez was not confirmed at her post because she was doing a good job of keeping the country and its people safe from the ravages of mining. She was not confirmed for hurting the big mining companies that senators and congressmen represent.

Instead the commission confirmed Cimatu who now washes his hands of the tragedy by saying that Ompong and not mining caused the landslide. The Commission on Appointments, therefore, should ultimately be blamed for the tragedy.

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