“Diyos ba siya?” Talisay, Batangas Vice-Mayor, Binanatan ang PHILVOCS chief Solidum!

It has been more than a week and from the way we can see from a far, Taal volcano seems to be have mellowed down.

That is a local government official is asking President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to finally allow his constituents to return to their homes even if the volcano alert level has been unchanged at Alert level 4 – which mean a major eruption of Taal is still possible.’

In an exclusive interview with DZMM, Talisay Vice Mayor Charlie Natanauan also has some criticisms against head state seismologist Renato Solidum over the volcano alert warnings, saying he should change his "opinion" about Taal's activity.

Pres. Duterte, Philvocs head Renato Solidum, and Talisay Vice Mayor Charlie Natanauan
(photo credit to owner)

"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.

(I will ask President Duterte if [Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology] could change its opinion on the volcano because he makes the situation seem worse.)

"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.

(He is the only one saying that and it's affecting the whole Batangas province. He should study it well.)

"Pabalikin na kami sana dahil wala naman nakaka-detect ng putok ng bulkan, di na nga nagalaw," he told radio DZMM.

(Allow us to go back because no one can detect a volcanic eruption)

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

(Allow the people to return. What does he want to happen?)

Citing his father's stories, Natanauan said Taal's eruption in 1965 killed many people "because we didn't have motorized boats near the island."

The Vice Mayor said that even if the volcano erupts, he expects the lava to stop once it hits the water "because it will get wet."

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

As per the previous media briefings, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs) explained to the public about base surges or high-speed blasts of hot gas, ash and volcanic debris that can float over water and reach lakeshore communities. This is what happened during the deadly 1754 and 1965 eruptions of Taal, which killed 1,300 and 200 people, respectively. Base surges are not only deadly, killing everything on its path, they are also subsonic in speed, which means people cannot outrun them.

Natanauan also claims it would unlikely for a hazardous eruption to happen since the volcano released steam last week. Previous eruptions, volcanic activity lasted from days to up to seven months before ending in an explosive eruption.

Recently, Phivolcs has warned of rising magma underneath Taal Volcano that could fuel a powerful eruption.

The Vice Mayor also cast doubt on Solidum's statement, saying Phivolcs was unable to predict the ash eruption last January 12.

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

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

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Report from ABS-CBN News