[imc-qc] Bangon Pilipinas backs Nakar Mayor vs. DENR allegations

[Tonyo Cruz]

Press Statement
January 22, 2005

Bangon Pilipinas backs Nakar Mayor vs. DENR allegations

"Bangon Pilipinas stands solidly behind Mayor Mayor Hernando "Nanding" 
Avellaneda. Good persons like him are rare in the public service and we are 
disgusted by Sec. Mike Defensor's allegations as published in today's Inquirer.

With such wild claims, the DENR secretary should change his name to Mike 
IMBENTOR. If he chooses to keep his surname, it should read as: Mike 
Defensor, defender of illegal loggers and scourge of good people.

"We have recently worked with Mayor Avellaneda through the Operation 
Compassion relief and medical missions to the Nakar barangay of Banglos. We 
were witnesses to his acts of generosity towards the residents of Banglos 
and other Nakar barangays who were victimized by the catastrophic typhoons 
and ensuing floods. He has even gone to the extent of actually donating a 
part of his own private land as a relocation site.

"Secretary Defensor and so-called reforestation czar should resign now. We 
advise Mrs. Arroyo to take them out before they do anything worse. By 
focusing on the likes of Avellaneda, he has allowed the real big-time 
illegal loggers to go scot free and has shamed a town reeling from a 
terrible natural disaster. They have not caught or prosecuted any big-time 
illegal logger. Not one has been brought before the courts. All they could 
show is today's Inquirer containing wild allegations against a man like 
Avellaneda.

"We in Bangon Pilipinas remin committed to help the peoples of Nakar and 
Infanta to rise up again and rebuild their lives."

Reference:
Dong Cucio
Deputy Director-General
Bangon Pilipinas
0917-5371969

Note: Bangon Pilipinas is a national renewal movement led by Bro. Eddie 
Villanueva. It aims to be a truly national, multisectoral and interfaith 
movement that will bring change to the Philippines.