ANGELES CITY – “They are fighting back. Not with reason but with terror.”
So said Ruperto Cruz, chairman of the Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) of “polluters reeling from denunciations of their degradation of the environment and the danger they pose on the citizens.”
The PGKM, along with the Krusada Kontra Amoy (KKA) have been at the forefront of a campaign against piggeries emitting foul odor and causing the proliferation of flies not only in the Porac barangays of Sta. Cruz and Manibaug-Paralaya but also in adjacent villages of Angeles City and Bacolor town “posing a clear and present danger to the health of the communities.
On Friday, Cruz found an abandoned Range Rover luxury vehicle draped with a streamer reading “No trespassing. Private Property” blocking the road to the Royal Garden Golf and Country Club in Barangay Pulung Maba, Porac which is a joint venture between Cruz and a Korean firm. The vehicle was also decorated with violet ribbons.
Cruz told The Manila Times that witnesses pointed to Robin Nepomuceno, chairman of Barangay Cutcut where the golf course is located, as the one who left the vehicle at the site.
Punto tried but failed to contact Nepomuceno. (In the spirit of fairness, we are open to the side of Nepomuceno on the issue anytime he wishes)
The Nepomuceno family reportedly owns property adjacent to Cruz’s which they are renting out to a poultry raiser. The foul odor and the flies allegedly coming out of the poultry farm have been the subject of complaints not only of the PGKM and KKA but also the nearby housing areas including upscale Enclave, Emerald and Timog Park.
“This is pure harassment. They are now hitting back because of our continuous campaign against pollution, against the foul smell that the poultry and piggery emit, against the threat to our very health,” Cruz said.
“I take this seriously, especially the message from the violet ribbons. The color violet is traditionally associated with mourning, with death,” Cruz added.
The harassment came the day after Cruz had a face-to-face confrontation with Porac Mayor Rogelio Santos over the television show Hamon Central Luzon hosted by John Susi on CLTV-36.
Cruz lambasted Santos during the program for his failure to solve the pollution problem and threatened to take the issue before a Senate committee hearing.
Earlier, Sen. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, chairman of the committee on environment, expressed intention to investigate the piggeries in Porac after she was apprised of the issue by Alfonso Dobles of the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon.
Santos is reportedly close to Nepomuceno, whose wife Cecille is a former Porac councilor and a losing contender for the mayoralty post in the late ‘90s. The Nepomuceno couple were among the prominent guests at the inauguration of Santos as mayor in 2007.
“Clearly, they have joined forces to protect the pigs and the chicken and hit hard at all those who are advocating for their right to breathe clean air,” Cruz said. “They are impacting their political positions and influence to frighten us into submission to further environmental degradation.”
Nepomuceno sits as city councilor, being the president of the Association of Barangay Captains. He is also the elder brother of Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno.
“Instead of being terrified, we are all the more inspired by this harassment, even by death threats, for we know we are in the right. The PGKM, KKA, the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon, other concerned groups and Porac residents will remain steadfast in this campaign,” Cruz vowed.
Cruz is contemplating of filing charges of Abuse of Authority before the Office of the Ombudsman against the elder Nepomuceno.
“I would also like to call the attention of the Land Transportation Office to check on the Range Rover which plate number RBV 692 sported 2008 registration which is already expired at the end of February. Bakas smuggled pa ito,” Cruz said.
So said Ruperto Cruz, chairman of the Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) of “polluters reeling from denunciations of their degradation of the environment and the danger they pose on the citizens.”
The PGKM, along with the Krusada Kontra Amoy (KKA) have been at the forefront of a campaign against piggeries emitting foul odor and causing the proliferation of flies not only in the Porac barangays of Sta. Cruz and Manibaug-Paralaya but also in adjacent villages of Angeles City and Bacolor town “posing a clear and present danger to the health of the communities.
On Friday, Cruz found an abandoned Range Rover luxury vehicle draped with a streamer reading “No trespassing. Private Property” blocking the road to the Royal Garden Golf and Country Club in Barangay Pulung Maba, Porac which is a joint venture between Cruz and a Korean firm. The vehicle was also decorated with violet ribbons.
Cruz told The Manila Times that witnesses pointed to Robin Nepomuceno, chairman of Barangay Cutcut where the golf course is located, as the one who left the vehicle at the site.
Punto tried but failed to contact Nepomuceno. (In the spirit of fairness, we are open to the side of Nepomuceno on the issue anytime he wishes)
The Nepomuceno family reportedly owns property adjacent to Cruz’s which they are renting out to a poultry raiser. The foul odor and the flies allegedly coming out of the poultry farm have been the subject of complaints not only of the PGKM and KKA but also the nearby housing areas including upscale Enclave, Emerald and Timog Park.
“This is pure harassment. They are now hitting back because of our continuous campaign against pollution, against the foul smell that the poultry and piggery emit, against the threat to our very health,” Cruz said.
“I take this seriously, especially the message from the violet ribbons. The color violet is traditionally associated with mourning, with death,” Cruz added.
The harassment came the day after Cruz had a face-to-face confrontation with Porac Mayor Rogelio Santos over the television show Hamon Central Luzon hosted by John Susi on CLTV-36.
Cruz lambasted Santos during the program for his failure to solve the pollution problem and threatened to take the issue before a Senate committee hearing.
Earlier, Sen. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, chairman of the committee on environment, expressed intention to investigate the piggeries in Porac after she was apprised of the issue by Alfonso Dobles of the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon.
Santos is reportedly close to Nepomuceno, whose wife Cecille is a former Porac councilor and a losing contender for the mayoralty post in the late ‘90s. The Nepomuceno couple were among the prominent guests at the inauguration of Santos as mayor in 2007.
“Clearly, they have joined forces to protect the pigs and the chicken and hit hard at all those who are advocating for their right to breathe clean air,” Cruz said. “They are impacting their political positions and influence to frighten us into submission to further environmental degradation.”
Nepomuceno sits as city councilor, being the president of the Association of Barangay Captains. He is also the elder brother of Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno.
“Instead of being terrified, we are all the more inspired by this harassment, even by death threats, for we know we are in the right. The PGKM, KKA, the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon, other concerned groups and Porac residents will remain steadfast in this campaign,” Cruz vowed.
Cruz is contemplating of filing charges of Abuse of Authority before the Office of the Ombudsman against the elder Nepomuceno.
“I would also like to call the attention of the Land Transportation Office to check on the Range Rover which plate number RBV 692 sported 2008 registration which is already expired at the end of February. Bakas smuggled pa ito,” Cruz said.
