The Vice Mayor of Talisay, Batangas, is not afraid of the possible consequences that he could face for encouraging the evacuees to go back to their homes despite the lockdown order from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In an interview with News5, Vice Mayor Charlie Natanauan insisted that the advisory of Phivolcs is only based on the ‘opinion’ of their chief, Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., and they’re only giving fears to the evacuees.

“Sinabi niyang lalakas pa lalo ang putok, edi lalong natakot [ang mga tao] parang hindi mo sila kinukumbinsi na ‘pagdating ng panahon, yan ay lilipas din’ eh ang gusto niyo ay palakasin ng palakasin ang putok eh,” Natanauan said.

Natanuan then pointed out that the Taal lake will protect them from the possible lava flow coming from the volcano.

The Vice Mayor, despite the warning of DILG, also admitted during the interview that he’s “encouraging”
the people to go home and defy the orders of the government.

If they’re still afraid to live near the volcano, Natanauan said that the residents should start to clean their homes now.

He also asked the Batangas Electric Cooperative, Inc.(BATELEC) to bring back the electricity in Talisay.

When the media asked who’s going to be blamed if some residents face their demise because of encouraging them to go home despite the warnings from the government, this is what Natanauan said:

“Ang masasabi ko diyan, kung mangyaring pumutok ng malakas yan, nandito ako, nmatay sila, nmatay ako, wala silang makakasuhan, ptay na kaming lahat,”

“Kung kmtayan ay ating katatakutan, wala tayong karapatan mabuhay sa mundo,”

He then repeated his calls to the authorities not to discourage the people from coming back to their homes.

“Hindi ho magandang pakingan, mas tinatakot niyo po ang tao… kaysa sa kumbinsihin niyo na makabalik at maka move on,” 

“Isantabi nalang natin, kunwari hindi na pumutok ang bulkan, mag abang na uli tayo ng panibago [pagputok],” he added.

In a press conference, Phivolcs already said that they’re going to respect the feelings of the Vice Mayor, however, they insisted that their advisors are being backed by data and scientific study.

Natanauan also captured the attention of some government officials from DILG and PNP.

Calabarzon PNP chief Vicente Danao even said that he may throw the Vice Mayor in the volcano if he insisted in defying the orders of the government.

“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.” Danao said.

“Kasi po pag ‘yan ay may nangyari, dahil sa pagu-udyok ninyo, pag nakita pa kitang buhay, iaalay kita sa bulkan na ‘yan,” he added.

The chief police of Calabarzon region warned Talisay, Batangas Vice Mayor Charlie Natanauan that he’s going to make the Batangueno politician ‘sacrifice’ to Taal Volcano if the evacuees decided to believe him and return home despite an order from authorities.

In a radio interview with DZRH, Calabarzon chief Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao urged the people to follow the order of the authorities and avoid forcing themselves to go near the 14-km danger zone of Taal volcano.

“Nakikiusap po kami sa aming mga kababayan na kung pwede po sumunod tayo sa batas na ipinapatupad ngayon, especially in the lockdown areas wherein we are now prohibited to enter within the 14-kilometer radius,” Danao said.

“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.

He then addressed Natanauan to cooperate with the government and avoid insisting his people go home.

Danao then said that he might throw the Vice Mayor in the mouth of Taal volcano if ever that the people followed him and return home.

“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.” Danao said.

“Kasi po pag ‘yan ay may nangyari, dahil sa pagu-udyok ninyo, pag nakita pa kitang buhay, iaalay kita sa bulkan na ‘yan,” he added.

Yesterday, Natanauan raised the eyebrows of social media users after he called the advisories of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs) chief Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. as ‘opinion’.

“Wala pang nakapag predict sa buong mundo kahit scientist sa pagputok ng bulkan,” Natanauan said.

“Bakit naman nasabi niya, siya ba ay Diyos?” he asked.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) made a response to Talisay, Batangas Vice Mayor Charlie Natauan criticizing the government scientists for causing panic to the affected families of Taal volcano and insisting that the government should allow them already to go home.

In a press conference, Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division head Mariton Bornas said that they understand the feelings of Natauan, however, they’re going to stand firm to their decision not to allow anyone to go near the 14km danger zone of Taal Volcano.

“With all due respect to the Vice Mayor, we can understand that he is under so much stress. We would like to respect ‘yung feelings ni Vice Mayor,” she said.

“We understand their plight. We will be the first one to say if it’s safe to go back. We have them in mind all the time,” she added.

Bornas explained that all their advisories are being backed by data.

“At the same time, we are firm in our science. We are doing our best. We are working doubly hard so we can give them the best information,” she said.

Meanwhile, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was saddened by the statement of Natanauan who even asked if Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum Jr. is acting like a God already.

According to DILG Spokesman Jonathan Maya, they’re going to communicate with the Vice Mayor to convince him that the decisions of Philvolcs are based on data.

“Nakakalungkot nga po nung mabalitaan namin ang statement ng ating vice mayor na hindi po siya naniniwala,” he said.

Yesterday, Natanauan criticized Solidumand even bared his plan to talk with the President to convince the chief executive that it’s already safe for the people of Talisay to go home.

“Ang plano ko as vice mayor ay ako ay humihingi ng kuwan kay Presidente Duterte na kung maaari ‘yung opinyon ng Phivolcs ay medyo baguhin kasi masyado niyang pinalala ang sitwasyon ng balita,” Natanauan said.

“Masyado niyang ano e, sabi niya mas malakas ang puputok na susunod, nag iipon lamang. Opinyon niya ‘yon…Nag-iisa siya (Solidum) sa kaniyang opinyon. Kami buong Batangas ang naapektuhan sa kaniyang sinasabi. Pag-aralan niyang mabuti,” he added.

“Wala pang nakapag predict sa buong mundo kahit scientist sa pagputok ng bulkan, bakit naman nasabi niya, siya ba ay Diyos?” he also said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson admitted his mistake in understanding the Quo Warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against television network giant ABS-CBN.

On his Twitter post, Lacson said that he ‘misinterpreted’ the said quo warranto petition, saying that he thought that they filed it to prevent the Congress from doing their job in renewing the franchise of ABS-CBN.

However, he later realized that if the Supreme Court revoke the franchise of ABS-CBN, Congress has nothing to renew anymore.

“My bad. I misinterpreted Solgen’s ‘quo warranto’ petition to mean preventing Congress from acting on pending bills to renew the ABS-CBN 25-yr old franchise instead of revoking the same. If SC revokes, Congress has nothing to renew. It’s all up to the Supreme Court. Sorry,” said Lacson.

My bad. I misinterpreted Solgen’s 'quo warranto' petition to mean preventing Congress from acting on pending bills to renew the ABS-CBN 25-yr old franchise instead of revoking the same. If SC revokes, Congress has nothing to renew. It’s all up to the Supreme Court. Sorry.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) January 20, 2020

Yesterday, Lacson reminded President Rodrigo Duterte that the Congress has the right to decide about the fate of ABS-CBN’s franchise.

He also called the Quo Warranto petition filed by Calida as unnecessary.

“Ang renewal ng franchise, ayon sa Constitution, nasa Kongreso yan. Kami ang magde-deliberate, at ang mag-a-approve niyan, Pangulo,” Lacson said.

“I think parang superfluous ang mag-quo warranto pa para pigilan ang pag-renew ng franchise, kasi power ng Congress ‘yan… Kami ang dapat masusunod kung mare-renew ba ng another 25 years ang media outfit…So I think medyo duplicitous ang move para pigilan, kasi hindi talaga kayang pigilan ang Kongreso,” he added.

He also mentioned a possible constitutional crisis if the Supreme Court grants the Quo Warranto petition.

“Baka magkaroon tayo ng constitutional crisis. Kasi halimbawa, kung mag-grant ang SC ng quo warranto at kasalukuyang nagsasagawa kami ng plenary deliberation sa renewal ng franchise ng ABS-CBN, ano ang mananaig doon? Of course sabi nila, pag sinabi ng SC ganito, it becomes part of the law of the land, pero Constitution itong pinag-uusapan natin. ‘Di pwedeng sabihin ng SC na unconstitutional ang ginagawang deliberation ng Congress sa pag-renew ng franchise kasi maliwanag sa Constitution na sa amin ‘yan,” he said.

The franchise of ABS-CBN is set to expire in March this year.

The Vice Mayor of Talisay, Batangas, the municipality where Taal volcano is located slammed the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) chief seismologist, Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., for not allowing residents to go home.

In an interview with DZMM, Vice Mayor Charlie Natauan said that he’s planning to talk to President Rodrigo Duterte to complain about the updates of PHILVOCS.

According to him, Solidum’s update about Taal is only causing panic to the people of Batangas, he also called the scientist’s statements as ‘opinions’.

“Ang plano ko as vice mayor ay ako ay humihingi ng kuwan kay Presidente Duterte na kung maaari ‘yung opinyon ng Phivolcs ay medyo baguhin kasi masyado niyang pinalala ang sitwasyon ng balita,” Natanauan said.

“Masyado niyang ano e, sabi niya mas malakas ang puputok na susunod, nag iipon lamang. Opinyon niya ‘yon…Nag-iisa siya (Solidum) sa kaniyang opinyon. Kami buong Batangas ang naapektuhan sa kaniyang sinasabi. Pag-aralan niyang mabuti,” he added.

Natauan then gave his own findings of the current condition of Taal, saying that it’s already impossible for the volcano to erpt again.

He also said that the people only needed boats to escape the lava from Taal if ever that it heightened its activity again.

“Pagkabagsak (ng lava) sa tubig, tumitigil siya dahil nababasa,” he said.

The Vice Mayor also asked if Solidum is already acting as a God because he seems acting like he has the capability to predict the activity of Taal.

“Wala pang nakapag predict sa buong mundo kahit scientist sa pagputok ng bulkan,” he said.

“Bakit naman nasabi niya, siya ba ay Diyos?” he added.

Natauan said that the dangerous erption of Taal is already things of the past.

“Ang history ng bulkang ito naglilindol muna bago siya pumutok eh ngayon naman walang lindol…Ako ordinaryong tao lamang pero ‘yung mga sinasabi nilang pagsabog noong araw lang iyon,” he said.

He then asked the government to let the residents back to their homes as no one could predict the next movement of the Taal volcano.

“Pabalikin na kami sana dahil wala naman nakaka-detect ng putok ng bulkan, di na nga nagalaw,” he said.

“Pabalikin ang tao kasi normal na. Ano bang gusto niya (Solidum)?” he added.

As of writing, PHIVOLCS is keeping the alert level 4 in Taal volcano and still disallowing residents to go back to their homes located near the danger zone.