ANTI MINING SENTIMENTS MOUNT GROUPS SEEK NV BOARD TO DECLARE MINE EXECS PERSONA NON GRATA	June 26 , 2008

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya - Anti-mining sentiments here continue to mount as Church-inspired groups here asked the provincial board to declare executives of a foreign mining firm contracted by the national government persona non grata for their alleged arrogance and disrespect of Philippine laws.

Meanwhile, the provincial board passed on a second reading a motion withdrawing support of the US$117 Didipio Gold-Copper Project here of the Australian firm OceanaGold Philippines, which it endorsed three years ago amid the ongoing impasse between the province and the mining firm over payment of local taxes.

Likewise, the Provincial Development Council, in a resolution, asked the Regional Development Council (RDC) chaired by Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena, a known anti-mining advocate, not to endorse the Didipio project due to “several violations committed by its (foreign proponent).”

In a joint statement yesterday (25 June), local-based groups opposed to the Didipio project in Kasibu town’s remote Didipio village here sought the province’s legislative board to declare OceanaGold officials persona non grata here for alleged human rights and environmental violations.

“OceanaGold has exhibited arrogance and disrespect of Philippine laws. But they were wrong to think they can buy everything. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan must do more than withdrawal of support. They should declare OceanaGold persona non grata,” said in a statement distributed while the 14-member provincial board was deliberating a motion seeking to withdraw its earlier endorsement to the firm’s mining project here.

The Catholic diocesan-led anti-mining advocates accused the foreign firm of alleged human rights violations, citing its alleged demolition of villagers’ houses in Didipio “without warning,” taking advantage of the Holy Week break.

“The firm defiled the sanctity of the Holy Week when they demolished houses even on Black Saturday, (allowing its) guards go unpunished after shooting a Didipio resident, whose only intent is to protect his neighbor’s house,” the two-page statement said.        

OceanGold denied the accusations, saying its actions were in accordance with a Department of Environment and Natural Resources resolution, and that proper consultations with the affected residents were made, including compensation to those affected, before it went to clear its mining site of structures.

DEMOLITION ILLEGAL

Last week, the regional trial court (RTC) declared that the Didipio demolition was “tainted with irregularity and contrary to the law.”

“The right to own and possess property is one of (men’s) cherished rights…Important as the power of eminent domain may be, the inviolable sanctity which the Constitution attaches to the property of the individual requires that the taking of the property must be in accordance with the prevailing law…it shall be the duty of the courts to protect the rights of the individuals to their private property,” said RTC Judge Vincent Eden Panay of Branch 30 in his resolution declaring the mining firm’s actions as “contrary to the law.”

“We are right when we said mining has no place in a watershed haven (like Nueva Vizcaya). Sustainable development is founded on a sound agricultural growth. For what use are those good roads when our lands are destroyed and barren,” the statement added.
 
Aside from the Didipio Earth Saver’s Multipurpose Association and the Kasibu Inter-Tribal Response for Environment and Development, other groups who endorsed and supported the joint statement include the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, Philippine Association for Intercultural Development, Philippine Human Rights Information Center, the Alyansa Tigil Mina and the Save the Valley, Serve the People Alliance for the Environment.#charlie lagasca (NVPC-PAIAD)