Crushing Opposition to Mining Operations
Second of two parts

Religious leaders and civil authorities suspect that behind the military campaigns and offensives in Samar and Leyte islands are mining interests.

BY DABET CASTAÑEDA
Bulatlat

The Supreme Court’s (SC) decision December last year reversing its earlier ruling concerning the legality of the Mining Act of 1995 has paved the way for U.S. and other foreign mining corporations to claim mining rights in the country, the report of the recently-concluded International Solidarity Mission (ISM) said. These corporations have particularly penetrated Samar, an island in central Philippines rich in bauxite, nickel and copper.

Alex Lagunzad, secretary-general of Karapatan-EV, said that Samar is one of the Arroyo government’s priority mining areas. However, mining operations in the area are met by stiff opposition from the people of Samar led by church people, environmentalist groups and local government officials.

In turn, this opposition has been met by harsh military attacks. The Karapatan chapter in this region relates the attempt on the lives of Fr. Allan Caparro, IFI, and Aileen, his wife, last Feb. 18 in Abuyog, Leyte to their anti-mining position. Leyte is the neighboring island province of Samar. Both islands including the province of Biliran constitute the whole of Region 8.

Fr. Caparro is head of an anti-mining alliance in Calbayog, Western Samar. He and Aileen were critically wounded when they were fired upon by three motorcycle-riding men.

Lagunzad said religious leaders and civil authorities suspect that behind the military campaigns and offensives in Samar and Leyte islands are mining interests.

The young human rights worker added that these attacks against anti-mining activists came after Secretary Angelo Reyes of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) assured foreign mining investors, during the International Conference on Mining Investment, Feb. 3, that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be mobilized to protect their investments and operations in the country.

In a privilege speech delivered during the congressional inquiry on human rights violations in the region, Rep. Reynaldo Uy (first district, Samar) confirmed Lagunzad’s claims. Uy said that military operations that have resulted in gross human rights violations happened in areas where there are mining interests and people’s resistance.

The congressman also pointed out that militarization is intense in areas covered by the 54,000-hectare land that the Chamber of Mines in the Philippines has requested to be excluded from the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP). This 347,000-hectare protected area is an environment conservation project.

Uy is one of the co-authors of the proposed SINP that would prohibit mining activities within the park.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lists two mining companies which have an ongoing exploration in the region, particularly in Southern Leyte: the Buena Suerte Mining Corporation which explores San Francisco, San Ricardo, Pintuyan and Liloan (6,611.59 has.) and Orophilippine Ventures, Inc. which explores Sogod, Liloan, St. Bernard and Libagon. Gold, silver and other associated minerals can be mined in these areas.

Ironic realities

Although abundant with natural and mineral resources, ironies perennially abound in this island.

Research by the Regional Peasant Alliance in Eastern Visayas shows that only 40 landholding families monopolize about 7,116 sq. km. of agricultural lands in the region. Being fertile, these lands yield good harvests of coconut, abaca, sugarcane, palay (rice grains) tobacco, root crops, coffee and corn. However, the region’s farmers continue to live in dire poverty.

While Samar is also known for its abundant geothermal power reserve that supplies the National Power Corporation (Napocor) and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), Samarnons pay the highest rate for electricity in the country. Households also experience regular weekly power outages. In fact, the ISM team who went to the town of Villareal experienced such during its overnight stay in the area.

Fighting repression

Historically, Lagunzad said Samar has been highly militarized due to an active peasant movement.

History books show that violent attacks on the people’s rights occur whenever the people’s resistance to foreign domination and the struggle for democracy, genuine land reform, and social emancipation are strong. 

Twenty thousand Samarnons were killed in the infamous Balangiga (town in Eastern Samar) massacre in 1901.  U.S. troops mercilessly killed men, women, and children in retaliation for an incident where American soldiers were killed by Filipino guerrillas. 

And today, despite the vicious attacks on the lives and rights of the people of Samar, its people continue to challenge state brutality intended to protect the interests of foreign and local big businesses. “After the dreaded six months, we’re still alive and fighting,” Lagunzad said.

The struggle for justice for the several victims of military atrocities in Samar has been elevated as a national concern.  The findings of the ISM team in Samar, together with that of the four other ISM teams, which visited Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac, Oriental Mindoro, Surigao del Sur and Moro communities in Manila, have been disseminated nationally and international. Copies of the findings and documented were also presented to the impeachment team of the House of Representatives to be used as evidence against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The foreign participants to the ISM have also vowed to bring these cases to their countries.  Aside from propagating the findings, they will ask their governments to withdraw all forms of support and aid to the Arroyo government. Bulatlat