Letters to the Editor
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The blame game
Prior to the computer games, children often played rhythmic games.
I could recall the loud voices and chuckles of kids as they muster
“ Who stole the cookies from the cooky jar, I think John stole the
cookies from the cooky jar, who me? Yes, You! Not me! Then Who? “
This goes on and on until finally someone commits a mistake and is
declared the culprit It s only now that I realize, pointing an
accusing finger to anyone was only a game... at least when we were
still kids.
My childhood games came to my mind as I read the news about how
Governor Fernando Gonzales cautioned the local officials of
Sorsogon against blaming Lafayette Mine spill for allegedly
contaminating the waters along the coastal towns of Sorsogon.
Maybe, these officials (the ones blaming and even the one telling
the blamers not to blame) were masters of the finger-pointing game
during their early days days. Being masters of the game, it would
be simple to change the familiar lines of the rhythmic game into:
“Who is to blame for the fish kill in the seas? I think Lafayette
killed the fish in the seas. Who, Me? yes, You! Not Me Then Who?”
The Governor of Albay claimed that he is an active member of the
monitoring team and he knew all aspects...including the
contamination agents of detergents used by Lafayette personnel.
This he said was being monitored and studied.
Taking his word as it is...then, there should not be a cause for
apprehension. In fact, no fish kill should have happened in the
first place. (Whether it be in Sorsogon or Rapu-Rapu) The problem
is, it happened.
Maybe he is correct in telling us about the team’s findings that
the company does not use mercury in processing the ores. Who would
know after all? Nobody could be more reliable than the active
members of the team. If mercury is out of the question since
Lafayette does not use mercury, then what could be the cause? If
not Lafayette, then who?
I am not taking the side of the governor. I want to look at his
posturing as a challenge for the officials of Sorsogon. A
challenge to prove their claims and also a challenge for them to
look into other contaminants that could be present in their
backyard. While so doing, we should not be misled by putting a
conclusion that Lafayette is exempted from the possibilities. They
might not be using mercury (according to the monitoring team) but
their operation may have other contaminants. Lets say cyanide. Has
this gone through with the scrutiny of the active members of the
monitoring team? I doubt it did.
I salute the officials of Sorsogon. They stood their ground in
defending the interests of the Sorsoganons. Their position may not
be popular for others but taking a quick stand in protecting their
constituents is a prime obligation of an elected official and
nobody could question them. One thing more admirable is the
information that their actions made the people of Sorsogon more
heedful. Their being bold enough has at least found its place in
the national newspaper and has helped in sustaining the wiles
about the issue on mining.
I acknowledge the power of media not only in molding public
opinion but also as a means of exerting pressure to Lafayette for
them to be true with their promise of a transparent mining
operation. I just hope that the same would be felt by the agency
of government mandated first and foremost to protect the
environment...The DENR. Greater enormity should be felt by the MGB
so that they could act as the watchdog whose main reason is to see
to it that environmental laws are not violated and processes are
really followed. These “watchdogs” should have the teeth that are
tough enough to bite anyone who dares to violate the ECC and other
environmental laws. I hope against all odds that supporting the
arguments about the issue on mining could avert some officials of
the country’s environmental agency from acting like spokespersons
of the mining company.
So much with the finger-pointing game since it could not change
things. The truth is that if there have been any fish kill
incidents in the shorelines of Sorsogon and as a consequence of
this,..the fish scare, the fact remains that these are mere
manifestations of a tainted marine ecosystem. Minus the
contaminating detergents, the fact would remain that mining
operation is the perpetrator of the sludge in the coastal areas of
Rapu-Rapu whose waters are linked to the waters of Sorsogon.
If Lafayette could not be blamed for this, then who should be
blamed? Can we point the finger at the government for making
mining as its flagship project? Can we impugn the officials who
authorized the project? Can we hold accountable the monitoring
team who has somehow botched in monitoring the project? Can we
reproach the constituents of Rapu-Rapu for believing that the
state of the art mining operation harm to the environment is not
comparable to the development it would bring?
Lets give a try. The next thing would be: “ Who me? Yes You. Not
me.” Then well be back to the same question: Then who?
Roy Nelson G. Layosa
rtayosa_yahoo.com
Tanggol Kalikasan-Bikol
Bachiller Compound, Washington Drive, Legaspi City
