WITH two decades worth of service to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 under his belt, lawyer Gerardo Mahusay was looking forward to a quiet retirement.
Although not an easy journey, the 63-year-old finance and administration chief said working for MGB had been smooth sailing for the most part until recently.
Mahusay was one of the four top officials of the MGB 7 relieved by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu due to the alleged inaccurate assessment they conducted in Barangay Tina-an, City of Naga, that led to the fatal landslide last Thursday.
To face an investigation are Mahusay, MGB 7 Director Loreto Alburo, Supervising Geologist Dennis Aleta and Chief Geologist Al Emil Berador.
“I very much welcome the call for an investigation because the truth will set me free,” Mahusay told SunStar Cebu.
He stood pat that his only participation in the drafting of the assessment report was signing the transmittal letter dated Aug. 29 as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the MGB since Alburo was on leave.
The report, Mahusay said, was taken from the geologist’s observation during their investigation in Sitio Tagaytay that the cracks and fissures were caused by a natural earth movement.
However, he said that there was a report dated Sept. 19 declaring Sitio Tagaytay unsafe and that residents in the area were advised to evacuate.
“On Sept. 18, they conducted another investigation. They also called for a conference in the upland office. Those present were representatives of the mining company and the local government unit. They knew about the advisory to vacate,” Mahusay said.
Although he remains hopeful that the investigation will help determine if he was at fault or not, what concerns Mahusay are the bashing and death threats he and his family are receiving.
He lamented that this has taken a toll on his family, especially his daughter who is preparing for the 2018 Bar Examinations.
“I received so many messages on social media. People are telling me it’s better that my family be also buried alive like the victims of the landslide in Naga. People immediately made conclusions, but why include my family?” Mahusay said.