Many people ignore the fact that to violate the sanctity of the environment is to court human disaster.

For instance, only few people realize that the 1991 flashfloods in Ormoc, primarily aggravated by forest denudation and reckless waste disposal killed 5,000 Filipinos - far large than the 3,000 killed in New York due to 9/11 Event and the 2,300 American servicemen slaughtered in the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Now the spillover of gallons of oil in Guimaras, once a pristine tourist haven and mango plantation, threatens the neighboring seas and provinces - making it perhaps the country's worst environmental disaster of the century.

Yet, it amazes a lot, that simple environmental laws are violated in wanton abandon ironically by those people who benefit from the bounty of Nature the most.

The closure, therefore, of Dumaluan Beach Resort last Tuesday delivers the message - that the environment is so sacred - that no one is above the law when it comes to Nature's desecration. That is especially instructive because the owner of the resort is the most powerful person in Panglao - Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan.

There are legal battles going on but one violation was sufficient to nail the resort down - not having the ECC (Environmental Clearance Certificate). It was therefore in keeping with the law that DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes sent Colonel Roy Kyamko and his team, escorted by military men to enforce the order. The military element was an obvious security measure to protect the implementing team for the mayor, as in many towns, do have armed bodyguards as well.

By itself, the move is seen by the public as a good indication that the government is serious in its campaign against violators of environmental laws. In the process, it also sets the tone of asking the mayor that being the highest official in the town, he should be the last to violate the law. Or in another light, if he cannot implement the laws, he himself should at least respect it by his own compliance.

The action of the DENR is a clear signal that there are no "sacred cows." Extending the "animal" trajectory farther, however, others are asking that what is "good for the goose must also be good for the gander."

For people know there are other resorts that do not have ECCs as well - to include even residences (old and new) along the shorelines of Baclayon. Violating the 20-meter salvage zone is a transgression both against the environment and the aesthetic sense - for it particularizes the scenic sea view to the exclusive benefit of the owners and resorts to the prejudice of the general public.

The Government must be very careful that when they implement the law - it is not viewed as selective justice and confiscatory in nature especially because the town mayor-resort owner is not known to be a fans club member of the power-that-be. The raiding team claimed they had no prior knowledge of any other violators other than the Dumaluan Beach Resort.

The DENR who supposedly grants those clearances should know who the other violators are and should throw the book at them pronto.

Any day longer of justice delayed is justice denied - though that does not exculpate the Dumaluan Beach Resort of the crime it is thus charged.

LESSON FOR ALL SPORTSMEN

In 47 seconds of Round One, the world of Boholano boxer Czar Amonsot fell like a deck of cards last Saturday before a stunned audience of his province-mates and boxing aficionados. He was knocked out ignominiously in one punch - so severe that a stretcher had to be unloaded to the ring just to be sure if the once boxing great needed to be taken to the hospital.

Before the fight, the Boholano who reeked with so much potential in his recent fights already lost the fight by not making the weight grade of 130 pounds. Some cynics pouted that he had himself kayoed - why risk further punishment when he had already lost the fight before the first bell sounded?

But that's no excuse.

Before the fight, we had heard of complaints from trainers and promoters alike that the guy was habitually violating curfew limits at the gymnasium. When one spends the night out - as late as that - it is not only an activity of a loner, it is always wasted, by circumstance, with wine, women and smoke. Hopefully not drugs.

The young, hopeful pugilist seemed not to be able to handle success - becoming a spend-free Lothario, though that's none of our business if he earned that kind of money.

But we think a point can be made - clearly at that - that if our athletes want to make a go for another Manny Pacquiao - discipline and clean living are musts especially on days preceding the fight. The championship is not a dash - but a marathon, a long hard climb of hard work and self denial.

Our Boholano athletes should realize that it is not also good to have success - too much, too soon. We begin to feel we are Superman and invulnerable to the logic of science and medicine.

For Amonsot, it was a horrible setback but young as he is, he can still rise up and fight one more round. For the rest of our Boholano athletes, learn your lessons right there before it's too late.