Tupas rebuffs Ajuy SB's call for public apology
The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Ajuy, Iloilo came to the rescue of Vice Mayor Ramon Rojas and Councilor Pepe Dumayao who were earlier tagged by Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr. as protectors of illegal fishing in their town.
The town's council unanimously passed Resolution No. 2007-65 demanding for Gov. Tupas to issue a public apology for implicating Vice Mayor Rojas and SB member Dumayao in illegal fishing activities without factual basis.
Tupas, however, stood by his earlier pronouncement that said officials are protectors of illegal fishing activities in the sea waters of Ajuy.
"Why should I apologize? If I apologize it would be tantamount to tolerating illegal activities," Tupas said in an interview with the Capitol beat reporters yesterday.
Tupas said reliable sources told him that the said officials are tolerating illegal fishing activities and serve as financiers of catchers of sea cucumbers (locally known "balat").
The governor disclosed that no less than the catchers of sea cucumbers apprehended by the Provincial Bantay Dagat recently pointed to the two officials as their financiers.
"I will have to put them in jail first before I apologize," Tupas quipped.
Tupas said the Provincial Legal Office is preparing appropriate charges against Vice Mayor Rojas and SB member Dumayao.
"I am not threatened by their move. We will continue our campaign against illegal fishing," Tupas averred.
Earlier, Rojas, in various radio interviews, strongly denied the governor's allegation. He said they have a municipal ordinance which regulates the catching of sea cucumbers.
He also accused the Provincial Bantay Dagat as the one involved in illegal fishing activities.
The governor, on his part, defended the Provincial Bantay Dagat, saying they have been effective in curbing illegal fishing activities in the northern part of the province.
"There have been drastic improvement in our fish population as observed by the fishers themselves. This only means that our campaign against illegal fishing is bearing fruit," Tupas said.