No dropping of SanRoque Dam case: Gov

By Jennelyn Mondejar

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Gov. Amado Espino Jr. Wednesday denied the province has backed out of the case against the management of the San Roque Dam, which it blamed for the massive flooding at the height of typhoon “Pepeng.”

“The province of Pangasinan has never abandoned and has no intention of abandoning its plan to pursue criminal and civil cases against the National Power Corp. and other agencies and personalities that have direct control over the operation and management of the San Roque Dam, if only to seek justice not only for the 63 fatalities but also for the numerous families who were rendered homeless and stripped of their means of livelihood and other valuable properties,” he said.

Espino was reacting to a report quoting the provincial legal officer as saying the provincial government decided not to pursue the case against San Roque Dam because of the huge docket fee required by the court.

In après conference, Espino said the delay was due to certain government procedural requirements “and should not be interpreted to mean that the provincial government has already shelved the case.”

He said it is easy to compute the amount of damage caused by the massive flooding that struck the province last Oct. 8.

Espino said in the series of investigations on the tragedy, it has been difficult to pinpoint the persons and officials directly responsible for the decisions that led to the release of an unprecedented volume of water from the dam.

Espino, however, gave assurance that the joint team of lawyers from the provincial board and the provincial legal office is still preparing the complaint.

“As soon as this is submitted to my office, we will take concrete steps to file the case in court,” he said.

Meanwhile, Espino said he respects the separate case filed by a group of lawyers against the San Roque Dam management and the Napocor.

“Maybe those... who filed (the case) are looking only after their personal welfare so I am hands off there. We don’t mind it. They’re ahead. What we are studying here is how we can help even those who didn’t file a case when it comes to civil liability for damages,” he said in Filipino.

He said though that he is giving priority to the criminal liability of those behind the release of a huge volume of water from the San Roque Dam.

Espino recalled how officials of the San Roque Dam, Napocor and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration were passing the blame for the massive flooding that ravaged Pangasinan.

“We must find out first who is guilty, what corporation, agency or branch of government is guilty,” he said.

“Seemingly there is no one responsible among these three entities but who is the culprit for the loss of lives and heavy damage on properties? That is our main concern now,” he added.