Protectors of illegal mining within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are the shadowy adversaries of environmental conservation, operating in the murky depths of corruption and deception.

It was a meaty revelation during the Senate budget deliberation on the DENR's P23.1-billion budget for 2024 on 17 November.

Senator Raffy Tulfo demanded a thorough investigation and lifestyle check on DENR officials, alleging their collusion with illegal miners. He backed his claim with compelling evidence and urged swift action against the crooks.

Had it not been for the senator's questioning, we would have remained blind to the fact that several undersecretaries have held their positions for extended periods. Thus, the need to scrutinize the long-standing officials who may have grown ineffective due to their prolonged tenure, akin to developing dementia, has hindered their ability to perform their duties adequately.

It intrigues me to whom the senator was referring — that erring official he spotted seated inside the Senate hearing room.

It's sickening that those tasked with safeguarding our natural resources have shirked their duty, morphing from guardians to facilitators of exploitation and environmental harm.

Like traitors in our midst, these illegal mining protectors have chosen to forsake their sworn duty to safeguard the environment, choosing instead to collude with unscrupulous individuals and organizations to plunder our land for personal gain. Their actions represent a betrayal of the public trust and a blatant disregard for the long-term well-being of our planet.

That Senate budget session unveiled the existence of pseudo-protectors who have donned cloaks of deceit, masquerading as guardians while clandestinely facilitating the pillaging of our natural resources. Their figurative swords, once symbols of protection, have been twisted into exploitation tools, leaving scars that may take generations to heal.

Instead of standing as sentinels of integrity, they embody moral decay within the department, sowing seeds of discord and disillusionment among those who still believe in environmental protection.