In his letter to SARA Spokesperson and Secretary-General of Aquinas University of Legazpi, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region V Director Reynulfo A. Juan claims that Mr. Virgilio S. Perdigon, Jr. has interminable questions. He alleges that they went to the creeks and bathed there. He attaches photographs as evidence of such bathing. We direct the attention of the reader to those photographs which we post above under the same title “MGB V Photographs and Bathing in the Creeks of Rapu-Rapu.” We place them there for better viewing.
Mr. Perdigon replies as follows:
As regards your feeling that I have interminable questions, I respond that we citizens are interminable in paying our taxes. Every year we pay our income tax and every day we pay EVAT. Hence, I do not see consistency when you “feel (I) have interminable questions.” The fact is that the questions are the same. They are just not answered well enough to be credible to us taxpayers. At best, your answers have been piecemeal and evasive. It is our right to raise the same unanswered questions per guarantee of the Constitution and it is your duty to properly answer them according to RA 6713.
We cut and paste our challenge because it seems you fail to understand it (please refer to letter dated March 21, 2011):
Your bathing in the creeks will be open to the public, the sites and dates will be chosen randomly by our side, it will be done four times with each lasting for at least thirty minutes. If any fish is found, we will cook it for you. We do not agree that the dates will depend on the next MMT inspection since we have already expressed no faith in that group. It is also necessary to withdraw the armed men preventing public access to the creeks.
These conditions are essential because they are intended to establish credibility. None of these are met in your alleged “bathing” for the following reasons:
(1) The good Director says he believes the contamination data but he is not among those “bathing.” Someone is shown sitting on the rocks (obviously not bathing) but the face is not recognizable. A group of men seated around some food are not bathing either. They do not appear to be anywhere near the creeks. Instead they are in a parking lot as indicated by the pickup truck in the background.
(2) Our side did not randomly choose the dates and sites hence we cannot say that the photos were taken in any of the contested creeks. It is apparent by your unilateral action that your side is not willing to concede this condition. Our random choice is essential to prevent any prior “sanitization” of certain spots for the purpose of photo operation (though we do not claim that your group actually did it this time).
(3) The people in the creeks are not actually in contact with the water. They are perching on rocks instead, obviously avoiding the effluent. The feet of the men in blue overalls are almost all hidden from the camera but obviously not immersed in water. Still, two photos show that they are wearing what appears to be rubber boots, another evidence of avoidance.
(4) The photos show that green vegetation is distant from the water while vines that are in contact with it are brown, leafless and (as they appear in the photos) dead. (In healthy creeks like those at the foot of Mt. Mayon, the leaves mingle with the water and the creek beds are green with moss. Please see my attachment.) In the creeks photographed by MGB V yellowish coloration is evident. In the data you have presented, nothing is mentioned about results of sampling for heavy metals and nothing is said about freshwater organisms. Allowing us free access and surprise visits would have revealed if there are even snails in the creeks.
(5) The people shown to be at the mouth of one creek are also not bathing but standing. Since they were photographed at a great distance, MGB V fails to prove that they are not wearing rubber boots.
(6) The people shown to be bathing are not doing so in the creeks but far out in the sea whose location is not verified. We cannot tell how long they stayed in the seawater.
(7) Even after the alleged event, we cannot verify your photos through an ocular inspection because armed guards are preventing us, contrary to the “invitation” stated in your letter dated April 15, 2011.
As another example of your evasiveness, it took several months before we were informed of the identity of the “geochemist.” Any taxpayer would not be satisfied until this information is given. We want to know his or her identity because the day will come when our group will either praise for truth or file a falsification case for data tampering. I took note of your information that the geochemist Ms. Pearl Marian A. Peralta is a contractual employee of MGB V.
The strength of our Republic lies in the vigilance and persistence of its citizens. The Arroyo administration failed in its bid for a “strong republic” because of lies. Under the new administration of PNoy, we taxpayers believe in Daang Matuwid. Our contribution to its realization is to scrutinize every information we receive from public servants. Saving Rapu-Rapu means knowing whether there is environmental damage and economic injustice or not, and then acting on the basis of truth.
Nice try about the “bathing” and the photos but please make them convincing next time. Thank you.
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