Faculty and students of Sienna College and the University of the Philippines brought relief goods and Christmas gifts for the Aeta children and their families.

But behind the happy faces are stories that forebode the tragedy wrought by the mining firm in Zambales.

Benny Capuno, 37, a protestant pastor and village resident told GLNS that two mining companies also owned by the Dizon family intends to operate open pit mining covering some 1,118.5 has. in Porac and Floridablanca, Pampanga.

Pisumpan

The first one called Pisumpan Mining by residents will cover 405 has. in Sitios Lilip, Tapi and Kuyukot in Barangay Camias, Porac at the foot of Mt. Negron.

The second one covers 713.5 has., lying between Barangays Sapang Uwak and Inararo, Floridablanca, according to Capuno.

Capuno said that aside from the total environmental damage on the mining sites, two major river systems in Pampanga—the Porac-Gumain River and the Mancatian River—will be polluted once the mines operate.

Rosendo Irubin, 47, an Aeta resident said drilling explorations have started since the late 1970s covering the Pisumpan area. He said that red dust that came from exploration sites seeped into the streams and killed the fishes.

Resistance

Capuno said affected Aeta communities have voted last year to oppose the mining operations but a series of events appears to favor the mine proponents.

His brother and former village chairperson, Bienvenido Capuno was gunned down allegedly by soldiers on Sept. 16, 2005. The slain village official led in the protests against the mining company.

“Yung pumalit sa kanya ay baka natakot na. Hindi na siya tumitindig laban sa mina,” (The person who replaced my brother as village chairperson may have succumbed to fear. He does not oppose the mine anymore.) Capuno said.

He said the current village head has signed a memorandum of agreement with local government officials approving the mining operations in Barangay Camias.

“Kailangan namin muling magsalita at ipahayag ang aming pagtutol kahit na may pinirmahan ng MOA,” (We need to speak out again and voice our opposition even if a MOA has already been signed.)

Mining Act

Nelson Mallari, CLAA chairperson told GLNS that mining companies are rushing to open pit mining concessions with the passage of the Mining Act of 1995 and the Supreme Court’s decision that removed all legal obstacles for unabated mining in the country.

He assailed the government’s “total disregard” of the rights of indigenous peoples who will be displaced by the mining operations.

“Patuloy nilang kinakamkam ang mga lupaing ninuno. Ginagamit ang mga militar at mga ahensya ng gobyerno tulad ng NCIP upang pwersahang ipatupad ang pagmimina sa bundok,” (They continue to land grab our ancestral domain. The military and government agencies such as the NCIP (National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples) are being used to forcible implement mining operations), Mallari said. Gitnang Luzon News Service/Posted by Bulatlat

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