Greenpeace lauds junking of trespassing raps vs green activists in Cebu
Environmental activist group Greenpeace over the weekend welcomed the decision of a municipal trial court acquitting three of its "green warriors" charged with trespassing in Cebu province last December 2009.
In a four-page decision, Naga Municipal Trial Court Judge Gerardo Gestopa said he found no basis to hold the Greenpeace members Amalie Conchelle H. Obusan, Norineal Gamalinda Tolibas and Christine Garnace for alleged trespassing at the former Balili Beach Resort in Barangay Tinaan.
The activists entered the property to protest the dumping of coal ash in the village from coal-fired power plants in the province.
An existing temporary environmental protection order or TEPO, issued by Mandaue City Regional Trial Court Judge Marilyn Lagura-Yap in March 2011, prohibited the use of the landfill in Tinaan and other sites not covered by a court order.
“This is a very strong signal for Greenpeace and other environmentalists nga ipadayon ang ilang kausa (to continue what their cause). At least we know justice works, at least in this part of Cebu,” said Mark Dia, Country Representative of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
The property in question is the 24.7-hectare beach resort the provincial government bought for P98.9 million in 2008 from the late Engr. Luis Balili.
The Balili property is the site of the province-owned secured coal ash landfill that was constructed as part of an agreement on coal ash disposal with Kepco-Salcon Power Corp. (KSPC).
Dia said, “Coal ash – a toxic by-product of the coal-firing process from the power plant – was dumped in an area posing a threat to the health and livelihoods of the Barangay Tinaan community. The risks have also increased as more coal ash continues to be produced by the coal plant and threatens other areas in Cebu, and there are still no clear plans for proper disposal.”
Greenpeace pushes long-term solution to pollution problem and works for the phase out of burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, one of the most polluting energy sources; and to rapidly develop the Philippines’ abundant renewable energy sources.
"Developing and using renewable energy is the smart choice for the economy and for the climate. Fossil fuel prices are rising and will rise much more steeply once all the social and environmental costs are factored in," Dia added. — Amanda Fernandez, with a report by Jerbert Briola /LBG, GMA News
In a four-page decision, Naga Municipal Trial Court Judge Gerardo Gestopa said he found no basis to hold the Greenpeace members Amalie Conchelle H. Obusan, Norineal Gamalinda Tolibas and Christine Garnace for alleged trespassing at the former Balili Beach Resort in Barangay Tinaan.
The activists entered the property to protest the dumping of coal ash in the village from coal-fired power plants in the province.
An existing temporary environmental protection order or TEPO, issued by Mandaue City Regional Trial Court Judge Marilyn Lagura-Yap in March 2011, prohibited the use of the landfill in Tinaan and other sites not covered by a court order.
“This is a very strong signal for Greenpeace and other environmentalists nga ipadayon ang ilang kausa (to continue what their cause). At least we know justice works, at least in this part of Cebu,” said Mark Dia, Country Representative of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
The property in question is the 24.7-hectare beach resort the provincial government bought for P98.9 million in 2008 from the late Engr. Luis Balili.
The Balili property is the site of the province-owned secured coal ash landfill that was constructed as part of an agreement on coal ash disposal with Kepco-Salcon Power Corp. (KSPC).
Dia said, “Coal ash – a toxic by-product of the coal-firing process from the power plant – was dumped in an area posing a threat to the health and livelihoods of the Barangay Tinaan community. The risks have also increased as more coal ash continues to be produced by the coal plant and threatens other areas in Cebu, and there are still no clear plans for proper disposal.”
Greenpeace pushes long-term solution to pollution problem and works for the phase out of burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, one of the most polluting energy sources; and to rapidly develop the Philippines’ abundant renewable energy sources.
"Developing and using renewable energy is the smart choice for the economy and for the climate. Fossil fuel prices are rising and will rise much more steeply once all the social and environmental costs are factored in," Dia added. — Amanda Fernandez, with a report by Jerbert Briola /LBG, GMA News
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