PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – The provincial board here has declared an environment advocate organization persona non grata after its official came out in social media verbally accused the provincial government of condoning illegal logging, fishing and mining in Palawan.
Board Member Albert Rama said Palawan Non-Government Network Inc. (PNNI) Executive Director Robert Chan besmirched the reputation and integrity of the provincial government when he accused it of mismanagement and neglect in a video taken two years ago.
“The statement of Chan in the video is baseless and malicious which was intended to insult provincial government and the various concern government agencies for the purpose of raising funds for the PNNI. discredited the accomplishments and efforts of various agencies and consistently try to make a perception that government agencies negligent in forming mandates just to raise funds and donation,” Rama said in a resolution
“We strongly denounce Chan’s statement. The scheme is trying to deceive the public, funders and donors of PNNI,” he added.
In the same video, Chan also sought funds for the continued operation of PNNI.
In a statement, Chan said he was surprised by the provincial board’s resolution, declaring persona non grata in the province.
But he underscored that he had the right to make such statements against the provincial board.
“For sure, whatever was raised, any arguments raised cannot counter the fact that everyone has a right to free speech. At ‘yong nasabi ko doon, or in the past, ‘yan ay bahagi ng malayang pananalita at pagpapahayag that is granted to every citizen in Palawan or kung sinuman,” he said.
Chan also denied the accusation that he made a malicious statement against the current provincial leaders of Palawan.
“Let’s ask everybody, have you seen the video? Do you think it is a besmirching? Did you think that when I candidly said my piece, did you think my intent was to besmirch? Or was my intent to reveal, many illegal logging cases, many illegal fishing cases, many mining activities, are not being addressed? There’s a difference," he said.
He also said that the reason for declaring him persona non grata could be related to the upcoming plebiscite on March 13 that would decide if Palawan would be split into three provinces.
"I really don't know. It is puzzling, because how can something like this, which I have done two years ago, be surfaced now? Especially when it’s just two months away from the plebiscite on the division ago? I’m in Manila now, is there a move to keep me here now that I am persona non grata, I can’t go back now?," he added.
PNNI is a non-government organization in Palawan that is involve in anti-illegal logging and other environmental protection activities.