Butuan execs, cops block entry of government composite team to probe watershed mess
by Ben Serrano
July 24, 2009
BUTUAN CITY- Butuan City officials headed by City Councilor Randolph Plaza, son of City Mayor Democrito D. Plaza, II, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Alexander Alaan escorted by armed members of the City Police Mobile Gorup headed by no less than Butuan City Police Chief Supt. Joseph Plaza blocked the entry of a government composite team Tuesday morning at the national highway –Barangay Taguibo road junction this city.The government team was tasked to validate the first investigation report that there were indeed traces of illegalities done within Taguibo Watershed areas.
The team was escorted by the Agusan del Norte Provincial Mobile Group headed by Agusan del Norte Provincial Police Director Benson Leleng who on July 20, wrote a letter of assistance for security to Butuan City Police Director Joseph Plaza in the team’s plan to pass the Barangay Taguibo road.
The team was called upon by the Agusan del Norte Provincial Government to conduct further investigation for three days from July 22-24, in the alleged illegal mining, illegal logging and illegal road construction being done inside the watershed area part of which is in San Antonio, RTR under the jurisdiction of the provincial government of Agusan del Norte.
The two Plazas, Randolph and police official, Joseph told government team members they are not allowed entry at the Barangay Taguibo road leading to the Taguibo watershed because the team failed to seek permission from Butuan City Government to enter jurisdictional
The Butuan City Police Director defended their July 21 action claiming they acted within the scope of their duties thus exercising police power within a defined legal or territorial area of responsibility
Butuan City officials claimed the composite team requested by Agusan del Norte provincial government failed to coordinate with the Butuan City officialdom which raised suspicion on the motives in going to Barangay Anticala which formed part of Butuan City territory instead of going to the area via Barangay San Antonio in RTR town in Agusan del Norte.
Last June 15, 2009, government composite team composed mostly of national government agencies’ regional offices like the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), National Economic and Development Authority or NEDA, DENR, MGB, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Butuan City Government’s Environment office, CENRO-Butuan, the Catholic-led Caraga Conference for Peace and Development (CCPD) and others penned an initial report claiming there is indeed traces of illegalities done inside Taguibo Watershed areas.
The team vowed to hold post meetings together with their respective regional directors but aleegdly it failed to reconvene again for reasons they themselves only knew.
In the latest composition of composite government team, representatives from NCIP failed to show up or did not send their representative(s).
Earlier, students from Father Saturnino Urios University formed a movement called Save Taguibo Watershed Network which aimed to stop illegal activities which will further destroy the watershed area the only source of potable water supply for more than 300,000 Butuan City residents.
But City Councilor Randolph Plaza, who was once a youth leader appealed to the students and was heard over live radio interview over Bombo Radyo Butuan not to be duped by the intentions of the movement which he claimed politically tainted.
Political clans Plazas and the Amantes in Agusan del Norte are at odds for decades now. In 2006, same protests were met by the Amantes over mining controversy inside Tubay Watershed areas mined by allegedly by S.R. Metals Corporation.
The Amantes accused the Plazas in backing up anti-mining protesters headed by Tubay Parish Priest Fr. Jenor Luis and its parishioners.
It’s really obvious whose behind the ‘rape’ of our watershed. Masked or unmasked, we know who the culprits are. But you know, the 300,000 Butuanons who rely on the watershed could hear no evil, see no evil and talk no evil. It’s money talk again. We’re singing the same tune …people’s voice would be incognito once more. There is no hope for us. We ourselves are the culprits. Whatever happened in yesterday’s hearing was so PATHETIC( 3 pm at the Hall of Justice)…counsels of both sides were just smiling at each other. No matter what may come out…attorney’s fees would surely come in silver linings. They could flaunt their legal goobledegook ( sorry for the spelling) till they drop for they know that its the people who would be the losers. Butuanons are LOSERS. Forever be losers for we allow them to put us down. LOSERS…LOSERS…LOSERS! There’s no end to all of these. We’re all going down..DOWN…DOWN…DOWN!
Anyways, while the so called activists chanted their countless demands ( why can’t they have it one after the other), I was at the majestic City Hall. I happened to listen to those ‘insiders’. They claimed that those joining in the rally are not really from Butuan but all ‘hakot’ from far-flung baranggays. During their sharing of ‘gossips’, a man ( I guess a Catholic priest) came by. A man in barong ( could he be a councilor? sorry…I am not really updated who’s who in Butuan) commented that why should the church ( quite sure referring to the Catholic Church)intervened issues like this. Would they help people when they’re hungry. He added that as a matter of fact, no one died due to water contamination ( Would we wait?). When someone asked if the operation sa taas is still on going; he proudly said, yes because there’s no TRO yet. Ahhhhh…well, what do I expect? So sad…it’s so sad.