Sorsogon City- The head of the Department of Tourism in Bicol lashed at the mining critics and accused them of destroying the tourism industry of Sorsogon.

        Maria Nini Ravanilla, regional director of DOT, had a mouthful against the anti-mining advocates who tried to drag the whale shark to their fight with the Australian firm Lafayette Mining Company.

        The tourism director’s temper rose when Carina Escudero, a known Lafayette critic and a member of Greenpeace, told Ravanilla that a whale shark in Masbate died due to contaminated water, and was being attributed to the continued presence of the mining company.

        Ravanilla said she cautioned Escudero from making such statement as there was no conclusive evidence that would back up such claim.

        The truth of the matter was that the whale shark died from gunshots and hack wounds, it had 14 bullet wounds and one hack wound, she told Bicol Mail.

        The whale shark, which measured about four meters in length, was found dying early morning of May 23 by fisherman Artemio Dejucos of brgy. Morocborocan, Monreal, masbate who reported it to the local government which in turn informed the tourism regional office and the local government of Donsol, Ravanilla said.

        “Tama na! Don’t kill Donsol and the whale shark tourism. You’ve already killed Bacon! Spare Donsol.”, Ravanilla said as having told Escudero.

        The Escuderos are killing the tourism industry of the province, she stressed.

        The tourism official was referring to the mercury scare that anti-mining advocates created which scared beach-goers in Bacon district here.

        The story is said to have come from Vice-Governor Kruni escudero.

        The issue came out when Bishop Arturo Bastes, head of the defunct Rapu-rapu Fact-finding Commission sent a text message to the Inquirer relaying Escudero’s message alleging that contaminated water killed the whale shark.

        “Imagine the effect such falsehood would have on the tourism industry of Donsol if Carina Escudero would continue peddling lies”, an irked Ravanilla said.

        Bastes said he did not talk to Escudero.

        The dead whale shark was towed to Donsol, the whale shark capital of the world, where it was buried, she said.

        Meanwhile, a ranking official of the mining company expressed displeasure over Escudero’s accusation.

        “While Carina is at it again, she may also want to blame Lafayette for the whaleshark found dead in Manila Bay. Carina’s story is a classic example of anti-mining advocates’ propensity for ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ tactic. They easily sacrifice truth for the media mileage and sensationalism to advance their extremist position of total mining ban in the country.”, Atty. Julito Sarmiento, Lafayette’s corporate secretary and director, said.