MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) police on Tuesday warned Talisay, Batangas Vice Mayor Charlie Natanauan that he will be thrown into the Taal Volcano as a “sacrifice” should residents listen to him and return to their homes in the lockdown areas.
“Nakikiusap po kami sa aming mga kababayan na kung pwede po sumunod tayo sa batas na ipinapatupad ngayon,” Calabarzon police chief Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said in an interview over DZRH. “Especially in the lockdown areas wherein we are now prohibited to enter within the 14-kilometer radius.”
(I am appealing to those if they can abide by the law being implemented),” Danao urged.
“Especially po dun sa harapan ng crater, ang dami pa pong tao dyan na pumipilit na gustong pumasok pero ginagampanan po natin ang ating trabaho hangga’t kaya po natin,” he added.
(Especially those who live in front of the crater, there are so many people who are forcing themselves to go back, but we are only doing our job as best as we can.)
Moments later, he likewise appealed to Talisay vice mayor Charlie Natanauan: “Kay vice mayor po ng Talisay, nakikiusap po ako sa inyo bilang isang vice mayor ng lungsod o ng isang town dyan na please tumulong po kayo, wag na po kayo mag-udyok na pabalikin ‘yan.”
(To the vice mayor of Talisay, I am appealing to please help us, don’t ask them to go back.)
“Kasi po pag ‘yan ay may nangyari, dahil sa pagu-udyok ninyo, pag nakita pa kitang buhay, iaalay kita sa bulkan na ‘yan, (Because if something happens because of what you said, if I see you alive, I will throw you to the volcano as a sacrifice),” Danao later warned.
Danao’s warning comes after Natanauan in an interview with DZMM on Monday, appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to change the opinion of Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) chief Dr. Renato Solidum about the Taal Volcano’s situation.
“Ang plano ko as a vice mayor, ay ako ay humihingi ng kuwan kay Presidente Duterte, yung opinyon ng Phivolcs ay medyo baguhin, kasi masyado niyang pinalala ang sitwasyon ng balita,” Natanauan said.
(My plan as a vice mayor, I am appealing to President Rodrigo Duterte to change the opinion of Phivolcs, because they are worsening the situation.)
“Sabi niya kasi masyado daw malakas itong putok na susunod, nagi-ipon lamang. Opinyon niya ‘yun,” he added referring to Solidum.
(He said it will erupt next time, it’s just saving energy. That’s his opinion.)
And in a later press briefing held Tuesday, Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division chief Ma. Antonio Bornas said that as much they understand the stress that the vice mayor is going through now, she added that they “affirm in the science” on their monitoring of the volcano.
“We understand yung plight nila (their plight), we are working doubly hard so we can give the best information. We will be the first one to say if it’s safe to go back. Kasi (Because) we have them in mind all the time,” Bornas said