Press Release
October 19, 2009

CHIZ : CONFUSION OVER DAM PROTOCOL BOLSTERS
CASE VS SAN ROQUE

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday the confusion over procedures for releasing water from San Roque dam only bolsters the people's case against operators of the facility and validates their culpability.

Escudero also demanded that the National Power Corp. (Napocor) issue an interim protocol for releasing water from its dams in light of the entry of typhoon Ramil into the country's area of responsibility.

"The confusion over whether protocols for releasing water from San Roque dam were followed or if there are indeed protocols to begin with only proves that the entities responsible, notably Napocor, were not prepared for the scenario which resulted in hundreds of deaths and billions of pesos worth of destruction," Escudero said in a statement.

"We will press for a deeper investigation and help in the eventual prosecution of those involved in this tragic series of events. Napocor and San Roque's operators should not be allowed to wriggle out of this case," he added.

At a Senate hearing Friday, Napocor President Froilan Tampinco and chief hydrologist Russel Rigor contradicted themselves regarding the supposed protocol for the release of water from dams.

Rigor told the Senate that Napocor did not follow any protocol while Tampinco claimed the state firm did and that their engineers followed it.

"The conflicting statements raise the question of whether someone lied to us to cover up their guilt. Hundreds of Filipinos died from this so-called protocol and someone must pay for this crime," Escudero said.

At the same time, the 40-year old lawmaker stressed that Napocor should immediately issue an interim protocol for releasing water from dams and not wait for Nov. 30, the date when the agency said it would issue its revised protocol.

"Typhoon Ramil has already entered the country's area of responsibility. And based on Pagasa's analysis, the typhoon would most likely pass through Northern Luzon and probably Central Luzon. We cannot afford to watch another Pepeng-type tragedy unfold because Napocor is still revising its protocol," Escudero said.

"Gawan ng paraan. Hindi ito isang eksperemento na puedeng hintayin ang resulta bago maglabas ng konklusyon at rekomendasyon. Totoong buhay ito kung saan maaaring marami na naman ang mamamatay at masasalanta," (Come up with the necessary measures. This is not some experiment where we can wait for the results before we make conclusions and recommendations. This is real life where many may die again) he added.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said typhoon Ramil has maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.

It is expected to hit landfall Tuesday or Wednesday.

"The public must be able to trust the government agencies concerned with ensuring their safety and security. If Napocor cannot assure them that their lives and properties are safe when a typhoon hits, then Napocor must be made to answer for their negligence," Escudero said.

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