BID probes foreigners in anti-coal protest
The Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) is investigating the involvement of foreigners in the protest actions of environmental activists against a proposed coal-fired power plant in this city.
BID Regional Director Francisco Artuz on Sunday inspected the Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior, to check whether members of the ship's crew violated regulations and laws governing foreigners.
"We received reports that foreigners and crew members were seen joining the protest actions and we want to check if their papers are in order," Artuz said in an interview before boarding the ship that was anchored near the shores of Barangay Ingore in La Paz District here where Greenpeace activists had set up a protest camp at the site of the proposed coal plant.
He said members of the crew are not allowed to leave the ship without a shore pass. They are also forbidden to join politically-oriented activities like protest actions. Foreign crew members who violated regulations are liable for deportation, according to Artuz.
Rainbow Warrior has 12 crew members, 10 of whom are foreigners, and has 15 guests on board. It has been here since June 7 as part of an international tour to campaign against coal-fired power plants.
Greenpeace is one of the largest international environmental organization with offices in over 20 countries. It works for environmental conservation and the preservation of endangered species.
Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner Jasper Inventor said it is within the authority of the BID to inspect the ship and its crew and to verify their papers. "But we hope this is not meant to pressure us and Greenpeace activists from other countries to stop our protest against the project," said Inventor.
Yesterday, Greenpeace activists dumped around 20 sacks of charcoal in front of a Metrobank branch here to protest the proposed coal-fired power plant project. The activists dumped the charcoal in front of the Metrobank along Gen. Luna Street around 10:30 a.m. after they ended a three-day protest camp out at the site of the proposed coal plant.
The Global Business Power Corp (GBPC), a Metrobank subsidiary, and the Panay Power Corp (PPC), are pushing for the construction of a 164-mw coal-fired plant in Barangay Ingore in La Paz District.
The project is being supported by energy officials, business groups and most local officials.
But environmental and church groups are actively campaigning against it citing health and environmental hazards. They also blame coal plants as the leading cause of global warming and climate change.
"We are giving Global Business Power Corp. a taste of what it feels to be dumped with coal even as the charcoal that we used is safer than the coal used in coal plants," said Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner Jasper Inventor.
The protest ended a three-day stand off between the opponents and supporters in Barangay Ingore , inside the 40-hectare property of PPC, where Greenpeace had erected a 20-foot portable tower and unfurled streamers and banners against the project. Activists strapped themselves to tower and refused to leave until the project is shelved. But barangay officials and some residents who are supporting the project threatened to forcibly remove the structure if the protesters will not leave.
Barangay officials said the activists violated a village resolution prohibiting the setting of a structures without permission from the barangay captain.
A confrontation was avoided after parish priest Fr. Moises Tacardon intervened on Sunday and both groups agreed to give Greenpeace until noon yesterday to leave the site and dismantle their protest camp.
The activists removed the structures and left the area around 8 a.m. yesterday.