Tag Archives: Koronadal

[In the news] Endorsement for Tampakan project under new SouthCot execs unlikely -MindaNews

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Endorsement for Tampakan project under new SouthCot execs unlikely
By Bong S. Sarmiento
May 20 2013

MindaNews

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/20 May)— The ban on open pit mining in South Cotabato will remain a major stumbling block to the effort of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) to operate the Tampakan project with the election of the new set of provincial officials during the May 13 polls.

This after Rep. Daisy Avance-Fuentes (second district), who has been elected as the new governor, vowed to implement the ban on open-pit mining in the next three years, or until 2016.

It was Fuentes who signed the controversial Environment Code that bans open-pit mining before stepping down as governor in 2010 after completing three straight terms.

Fuentes (Nationalist People’s Coalition) defeated incumbent Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. (United Nationalist Alliance) on Monday’s elections on a vote of 117,855 and 111,214, respectively, or a margin of 6,641 votes.

“I will implement the provisions of the Environment Code that bans open-pit mining,” Fuentes said, noting she was the one who signed the controversial measure.

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[People] SMI-Xstrata Mining Company funds paramilitary groups by Judy A. Pasimio

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SMI-Xstrata Mining Company funds paramilitary groups
by Judy A. Pasimio
LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights)

Judy Pasimio photo from lilakIt is appalling to hear the confirmation of Kiblawan Mayor Marivic Diamante and military officers that Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) is providing funds for Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit or CAFGUs and military operations in the areas of its operations.

While this has always been the suspicion, given the scary and deadly enthusiasm of the military in eliminating opposition against SMI, the brazen admission of Mayor Diamante of the regular funds the local government has been receiving for Task Force Kitaco and the CAFGUs seems so callous of the plight of the B’laans under the hands of the military. Task Force Kitaco (Kiblawan, Tampakan, Columbio), according to the military, was created to provide peace and order in these areas.

The disclosure was made in the Congressional hearing of the National Cultural Communities Committee chaired by Cong. Teddy Baguilat, Jr. held in Koronadal City.

The funds, which are supposed to be used for the implementation of SMI’s community-based peace and security plan, are given to the local government units. How much exactly is being received by the LGU from SMI, this was not disclosed by Mayor Diamante. But from the testimony of the military, it was revealed that there is a monthly allocation of P9,000 for operations, P11,000 for gasoline, and P5,000 allowance for each CAFGU. There are currently 60 CAFGUs deployed in the municipalities of Kiblawan, Tampakan and Columbio. Imagine how much is being given to the LGU monthly. And we need not imagine how rabidly Mayor Diamante and the military defend SMI, even in the face of the clear involvement of the military in the B’laan killings – Juvy Capion and her two sons; and lately, Kitari, the brother of Daguil Capion. Daguil Capion is one of the B’laan leaders who have been defending their ancestral domains, and fighting the SMI. Daguil is the husband of Juvy and the father of the Jordan and John. Mayor Diamante also admitted that she had to put up a bounty of P300,000.00 on the head of Daguil as incentive for the B’laans to turn over Daguil.

So it is SMI’s hand which feeds the military and paramilitary operations in the B’laan territories. And it is SMI’s hand which breeds violence.

But it is the Office of the President, through Exec. Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. which hurried the DENR to issue the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) to SMI. And it is the DENR, through Secretary Ramon Paje, who finally issued the ECC. This, despite the recent killings of B’laans in SMI’s mining areas, the volatility of the peace and order situation in these areas.

Go figure.

judy.lilak@gmail.com

(Note: I attended the Congressional Hearing of the National Cultural Communities Committee in Koronadal, chaired by Cong. Teddy Baguilat / Feb. 21, 2013)

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[Press Release] Kiblawan mayor confirms Sagittarius Mines link to escalating militarization in Tampakan -ATM

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Kiblawan mayor confirms Sagittarius Mines link to escalating militarization in Tampakan
Says military receives subsidy for allowance and operations

atm-logoKoronadal City – Kiblawan Mayor Marivic Diamante disclosed that Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) is actually providing funds for the allowance and operations of the military and paramilitary groups within the towns of Kiblawan, Tampacan, Columbio, all covered by the SMI mining permit.

Diamante, in her testimony to the recently-held congressional hearing of the National Cultural Communities Committee, explained that a memorandum of agreement was signed in July 2006 by the local governments of Kiblawan, Tampakan and Colombio with SMI. This MOA was the basis of the deployment of 120 Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) men in the areas, and the creation of the military led Task Force KITACO. Task Force KITACO has been implicated in killings of B’laan leaders and anti-mining activists in the provinces.

The congressional hearing held in the provincial gym of Koronadal City was initiated by the Committee Chair Congressman Teddy Baguilat, Jr, to look into the intensifying militarization in the provinces and the series of killings of indigenous peoples within mining areas, with particular focus on the massacre of Juvy Capion and her two children in October 2012. The family of Capion is known to be leading the struggle for the B’laans ancestral domain, and against SMI.

SMI community-based security plan

The mayor’s report corroborated the testimony of the Col. Norman Marcos Flores, new commander of the 1002nd Brigade, who confirmed that the Philippine Army is providing security to the KITACO growth area and to implement SMI’s community-based security plan in Tampakan and Kiblawan.

The Philippine Army identified 128 incidents of security threat against SMI from 2007-2012, and they find this as a valid reason for their presence in the area to offer protection for the mining company. In exchange for this, SMI provides monthly allocation for the operations, for gasoline, and allowance for CAFGUs directly deployed in Kitaco areas. SMI has doubled the monthly allowance of each CAFGU from the government budget of Php2,700/month to Php5,400.

Government-SMI collaboration against mining-affected communities, indigenous peoples

Rene Pamplona, of Social Action Center (SAC-Marbel) said, “Instead of the military defending the people—it defends and protects foreign investments and kills community members The government is killing its own people because of this mining problem. Depite the killings, and the violence in SMI mining areas, the government still issued the environmental compliance certificate (ECC). ”

SAC-Marbel is helping indigenous peoples in dealing with the killings and other human rights violations due to the militarization of their ancestral lands.

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) sites of struggle officer Daniel Arias said: “SMI can no longer deny that these killings are rooted in the presence of its mining project and this was confirmed by the testimony of Mayor Diamante and the military. Truly, the blood of Juvy, and her children, Kitari, and all others who were killed are in their hands!”

“The situation painted by the testimonies of the military, the police, Mayor Diamante and the B’laans is very clear – the military is paid by SMI to protect its investment at all cost, even at the cost of the lives of the B’laans who are fighting for their land. And the Aquino government? It just issued the ECC to SMI. So the bias is clear. And it’s tragic,” Judy A. Pasimio of LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights) added.

Philippine Miserior Parnerships Inc Anti Mining Campaign Advocacy Officer Atty. Macki Maderazon who was also present during the said hearing further said: “This deadly deal between the LGUs of Kiblawan, Tampakan, Columbio and SMI puts the human rights of the mining-affected communities especially those who oppose it at greater risk of being violated further.

“This is not in accord with the duty of the government to protect the human rights of the people against corporate abuses and with the responsibility of corporations to respect human rights under the UN Framework and Guiding Principle on Business and Human Rights to which our government is one of the signatories. Policy on greater accountability of mining corporations and affording remedies to victims of corporate abuses should now be considered in Congress. The current mining law and even the new E.O. 79 failed to consider this.”

Meanwhile Rep. Baguilat in his closing message said that it is wrong to identify indigenous peoples who are opposing mining as bandits. He added, as an indigenous person himself that for them land is life and it is their right to defend their ancestral lands.

Baguilat concluded: “Kung anu ang desisyon ng pamayanang katutubo, yun ang dapat sundin at i-respeto.”

Mayor Diamante last year posted a reward of Php300-thousand for the capture of Daguil Capion immediately after the killing of Capion’s wife Juvy and two children. (Read: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/superbalita-davao/balita/2012/10/21/p300000-ganti-sa-makatudlo-sa-gitagoan-ni-daguil-capion-249099) She added in her testimony that she did this so that community members will be motivated to point out where Capion can be found, as he is considered a bandit.

During the public hearing, a survivor (minor, not to be named) and witnesses to the Capion massacre last October 19 were interviewed by Congs. Nancy Catamco, Neri Colmenares, Luz Ilagan, and Manny Pacquiao. Thereafter, the representatives found serious flaws in the way the case was handled by the military and the police.

Sagittarius Mines Inc (SMI) is the local partner of Swiss Xstrata and Indophil for the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project. It has been awarded a mining permit over ancestral domains of the B’laans.

Tampakan Forum is a technical working group on the Tampakan mining issue.

For more information:
Atty. Macki Maderazo, PMP-AMC Advocacy Coordinator, pmpsecretariat@yahoo.com, 0922-8501873
Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator, nc@alyansatigilmina.net, 0927-7617602
Farah Sevilla, Policy Research and Advocacy Officer, policy@alyansatigilmina.net, 0915-3313361

All submissions are republished and redistributed in the same way that it was originally published online and sent to us. We may edit submission in a way that does not alter or change the original material.

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[Statement] B’laan tribe members killed in alleged military ops -ATM

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B’laan tribe members killed in alleged military ops
SMI-Xstrata Mines-affected communities call for court martial, high-level investigation

atm-logoTribal communities affected by the SMI-Xstrata Tampakan Copper-Gold Mining Project and their support groups are calling for a high level investigation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Commission on Human Rights on the escalating tension and violence in the area, military presence and unstable peace and order situation in the mining-affected communities in South Cotabato.

Only three months after the massacre of the B’laan family composed of Juvy Capion, 27 and two of her sons Jordan, 13 and John, 8 last October 18, another alleged encounter was reported killing B’laan clan members, Kitari and Diyo Capion.

January 29, 30 encounter

According to reports gathered by the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Marbel (SAC-Marbel), on January 29, Kitari was going to Sitio Bong Mal when he saw military men identified as members of Task Force Kitaco. Fearing for the safety of his family, he ran back to his home in Nakultana and told his wife and children to leave and stay at their relatives’ place. Thereafter, an encounter took place. Kitari was shot twice.

He was brought to the Allah Valley Hospital in Koronadal City where he underwent operations from the sustained gunshot wounds, but after two hours was declared dead. The family together with SAC-Marbel immediately claimed his body.

January 31, Kitari’s remains were to be buried in Nakultana when another shoot-out between armed men took place in Bong Mal. A relative of Capions was wounded in that encounter and brought to Kiblawan for medication.

Juvy, Kitari and Diyo are related to Daguil Capion, a tribal defense warrior opposing the entry of mining companies in their ancestral domains. After the killing of his wife Juvy and their children, Kiblawan Mayor Marivic Diamante announced a reward for his captivity—dead or alive. (Reported by Inquirer Mindanao, 20 October 2012)

Peace situation and militarization in Tampakan

Communities and their support groups fear that the increasing presence of militias as investment defense forces is due to the entry of SMI-Xstrata in pursuit of the Tampakan mining project.

The SMI-Xstrata Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) for the Tampakan Gold-Copper Mining Project covers 23, 571 hectares in four provinces namely, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Davao del Sur, and Saranggani. The permit overlaps four ancestral domains including CADT 102, CADT 108, CADT 72 and CADC 74.

A pre-requisite before actual operations is the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of indigenous communities who will be affected by the development project. In this case, B’laans and other tribes have not issued their approval/FPIC for the project that will take their ancestral lands from them. It is believed that the presence of the military has increased tensions in the area since the indigenous communities are preventing the mining company from conducting any activity, due to this lack of FPIC.

People, Church and IP Rep call for immediate action

A postponed high-level investigation by the Commission on Human Rights and the Philippine Army is still awaited by the communities and support groups there.

Fr. Joy Peliño, SAC-Marbel Coordinator said: “We condemn this tragic incident even the killings on both sides of indigenous peoples and militaries. This is too much already for the communities that is why we are calling on the President to command the government agencies to investigate and resolve this situation.

We need the intervention of the Commission on Human Rights, together with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police in the Region, to investigate the situation in the mountains. We are aware that there is increasing deployment of military forces and the area, but we believe that there is no concrete reason for them being there other than looking after the mine area thereby threatening the rights of indigenous communities there.”

During a dialogue in the presence of Bp. Gutierrez, Gen. Bernardo, Col. Flores and Lt. Col. Imperial, and the representative from the Bong Mal communities last February 3 the military assured the communities that they can go back to their place safely. Military officials also promised that more restrictions would be ordered against Col. Bravo and that a court martial will proceed in two weeks time.

Another agreement was that space would be granted to the Fulong in Bong Mal to discuss and decide what is best for their communities given the current realities, and to know more who Daguil Capion is and so as not to be labeled simply as a bandit but someone who defends their ancestral land.

“I believe this threat alerts the communities and pushes them to fight against the military for fear of their life and to defend their ancestral land,” Peliño added.

Meanwhile, Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat, chairman of the committee on national cultural communities has scheduled a Congressional Hearing to be held in General Santos to hear from the community leaders themselves their problems concerning human rights and extra judicial killings.

Baguilat said: “I condemn the killing of my IP brothers and sisters and the continued threat of violations against them. In our planned Congressional Inquiry this coming Feb 21, my colleagues in Congress and I will study the different cases and put forward concrete actions to the government offices.”

Peliño concluded: “We look forward to the Congressional Inquiry this February but we also want immediate actions. We strongly call on PNoy to carefully examine whose interest is promoted and protected here but with a clear bias to the least—especially of the IP communities, not just the foreign investment and to command the pull out of military deployment in the area or at the minimum order the cessation of all military activities and violence in areas affected by the Tampakan mining project. Thus allowing the spaces for the Fulong and Bong Fulong. We rather their fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Constitution for self-determination and right to defend their ancestral land.”

Task Force Kitaco is a special task force created under the Army’s 1002nd Infantry Brigade assigned to oversee the secure areas where SMI-Xstrata’s mining project operates.

—
For more information:
Fr. Joy Peliño, SAC-Marbel Coordinator, sacmarbel@yahoo.com
Atty. Mario Maderazo, PMPI-AMC Project Coordinator, pmpsecretariat@yahoo.com
Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator, (0927) 761.76.02 nc@alyansatigilmina.net
Farah Sevilla, ATM Policy Research&Advocacy Officer, (0915) 331.33.61 policy@alyansatigilmina.net

Press Statement
February 5, 2013

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[In the news] Tribal members flee Tampakan mine site due to heavy military presence -MindaNews.com

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Tribal members flee Tampakan mine site due to heavy military presence
By Bong S. Sarmiento, MindaNews.com
February 3 2013

MindaNewsKORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/2 February)—At least 50 individuals, mostly women and children, have fled the mines development site of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc. for fear of the growing militarization in the area, a church worker said Saturday.

Rene Pamplona, advocacy officer of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Marbel, said the evacuees have sought refuge in a shelter owned by the diocese.

“They started going down on board motorcycles yesterday (Friday) because they are afraid of the growing presence of the military,” he said on the phone.

Pamplona said the evacuees came from Bong Mal district, a B’laan territory at the heart of the mines development site that straddles the towns of Tampakan in South Cotabato and Kiblawan in Davao del Sur.

The evacuation came three days after the alleged encounter between soldiers and a tribal armed group that is opposing the mining venture of SMI.

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[In the news] DENR-12 closes down 13 mini sawmills -MindaNews

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MindaNews » DENR-12 closes down 13 mini sawmills.

By Allen V. Estabillo, MindaNews
August 4, 2012

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/2 Aug) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has closed down 13 mini sawmills or wood processing plants in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region for violation of various environmental laws and regulations.

Dr. Bighani Manipula, acting chief of DENR-12’s Ecosystems Research and Development Service, said Friday they ordered the closure of the erring sawmills due to the lack of necessary permits and licenses, among them a five-year supply contract required by the agency.

He said the DENR requires sawmill operators to submit a supply contract to ensure that the trees they utilize or process were sourced legally.

“If a sawmill has no supply contract, it means it is getting raw materials from other sources, like maybe from government reforestation areas,” Manipula said.

Of the 13 mini sawmills that were shut down earlier this week, nine were based in South Cotabato province. Seven were located in Tupi town and one each in Surallah town and in Koronadal City.

Three other sawmills were padlocked in Cotabato City and one in Sarangani province.

A report released by the DENR-12 information section identified the erring sawmills as Patwoods Processing Inc. in Surallah town; Emerald Industries in Koronadal City; and sawmills registered to operators Manolito Landicho, Robi Magalaman, Lilit Delizo, Nieves Landicho, Marlon Cunanan and Donato Rivera in Tupi town in South Cotabato.

The others were Amacon Mini-Sawmill and Lumberyard, Arcela Mini-Sawmill and Lumberyard, and Suralda Mini Sawmill, all in Cotabato City, and Phela Resources Corporation in Maitum, Sarangani town.

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[In the news] 100 Ampatuan massacre suspects still scot-free | Sun.Star

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100 Ampatuan massacre suspects still scot-free | Sun.Star.

By Bong S. Sarmiento
May 24, 2012

KORONADAL CITY — Some 100 suspects in the gruesome massacre in the town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao that shocked the nation two years ago have remained scot-free, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Wednesday.

Rowena Paraan, NUJP secretary general, also stressed that only 96 of the 196 suspects have been arrested since the manslaughter happened.

She also lamented that of the 64 suspects arraigned, only two of them are primary suspects — former Maguindanao Governor Andal S. Ampatuan Sr. and his son and namesake Andal U. Ampatuan Jr., former mayor of Datu Unsay town.

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[in the news] 100 Ampatuan massacre suspects still scot-free | Sun.Star

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100 Ampatuan massacre suspects still scot-free | Sun.Star.

By Bong S. Sarmiento
May 24, 2012

KORONADAL CITY — Some 100 suspects in the gruesome massacre in the town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao that shocked the nation two years ago have remained scot-free, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Wednesday.

Rowena Paraan, NUJP secretary general, also stressed that only 96 of the 196 suspects have been arrested since the manslaughter happened.

She also lamented that of the 64 suspects arraigned, only two of them are primary suspects — former Maguindanao Governor Andal S. Ampatuan Sr. and his son and namesake Andal U. Ampatuan Jr., former mayor of Datu Unsay town.

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[In the news] 16 minors rescued from alleged trafficker -MindaNews

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MindaNews » 16 minors rescued from alleged trafficker.

By Allen V. Estabillo
May 12, 2012

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/11 May) – Government agents rescued at least 16 minors from Maguindanao province who were allegedly recruited for fake overseas job placements by a suspected human trafficker based in this city.

Timmy Rejano, supervising agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region 12, said Friday they intercepted the victims while their alleged recruiter identified as Mary Ann Linao was trying to secure their clearances at the NBI regional office in Koronadal City on Wednesday.

He said they immediately arrested Linao, who was charged late Thursday for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Acts of 2003.

“While processing the clearances, our agents discovered that some of the birth certificates they presented were bogus while others were tampered to make it appear that they were no longer minors,” Rejano told MindaNews.

He said they immediately took custody of the 16 victims, who were all residents of Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao.

During questioning, Rejano said the victims admitted that they were only aged between 16 and 17 years-old.

He said they were allegedly recruited by Linao for supposed jobs in Kuwait in earlier visits to their villages in Shariff Aguak.

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[In the news] Deles urges greater public participation in Mindanao peace process -MindaNews

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MindaNews » Deles urges greater public participation in Mindanao peace process.

By Bong S. Sarmiento
May 5, 2012

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/04 May) — The government wants greater public participation in the Mindanao peace process, Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said.

Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles . OPAPP PhotoDeles appealed Thursday to the public to study the issues surrounding the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to be able to contribute to the crafting of a final peace agreement.

“Read and study. You will see how broad and deep the GPH-MILF peace process is. You will understand how much there is that needs to be discussed on the peace table. Ask if there are things that need to be further explained and help in crafting an agreement that is acceptable to the majority,” she said in a statement.

Deles stressed the value of citizen participation in the peace process, saying that ordinary citizens should take part in supporting and guarding the peace talks.

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[In the news] Disparity between daily wage and cost of living: “heaven and earth”-MindaNews

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MindaNews » Disparity between daily wage and cost of living: “heaven and earth”.

By Bong S. Sarmiento
April 30, 2012

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/29 April) – “Heaven and earth.”

Adelaida Segumpan, Kilusang Mayong Uno (KMU) regional spokesperson said the disparity between the daily minimum wage rate and the estimated cost of living level in the area is now “heaven and earth” and they will push for a substantial wage hike and the abolition of the regional wage board during their Labor Day indignation rally on Tuesday.

“What the workers need now is a substantial wage increase in order for us to cope with the skyrocketing prices of petroleum products, basic commodities and services,” Segumpan said.

She described the recently approved P10 to P14 daily wage increase in the region “as a meager amount meant to pacify workers’ wrath against the callousness of the Aquino administration.”

Over the weekend, some 100 militant members stormed the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here where they staged a noise barrage in preparation for May

Ryan Lariba, spokesperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, pushed for the granting of a legislated P125 across-the-board daily increase to improve the plight of workers.

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[In the news] 5 die in clash near Koronadal City mine site | Sun.Star

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5 die in clash near Koronadal City mine site | Sun.Star.

By Bong S. Sarmiento
April 27, 2012

KORONADAL CITY — A soldier and four communist rebels were killed in a firefight in a remote village near the mining development site of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines Inc. in this city, an official said.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexis Noel C. Bravo, commander of the 27th Infantry Battalion, said the attack happened last Wednesday, when an estimated 40 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) stormed a military detachment in Barangay Bacungan, Columbio, resulting in the firefight that lasted for about 45 minutes.

Bravo did not identify the dead soldier who is from this city and holds a rank of private first class.

He said pursuit operations continue Friday against the NPA rebels at the boundary of Columbio, Sultan Kudarat and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

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[In the news] Anti-mining protesters in South Cotabato cry harassment | Sun.Star

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Anti-mining protesters in South Cotabato cry harassment | Sun.Star.

By Bong S. Sarmiento
April 22, 2012

KORONADAL CITY — Hundreds of protesters in South Cotabato cried harassment Sunday after two pick-up vehicles blocked their way to the development site of the foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) in Tampakan town.

Ryan Lariba, spokesman of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in the Soccsksargen Region, tagged SMI and the military as behind the blockade of the solidarity mission caravan.

“This is plain harassment, we only want to peacefully air our support to the lumads (indigenous peoples) who are against the Tampakan mining project,” Lariba said.

But Lieutenant Colonel Alexis Noel Bravo, 27th Infantry Battalion commander, denied Lariba’s allegation, saying he strictly ordered his troops deployed in the mines development site to stay on their detachment.

“It’s the IP (indigenous peoples) supportive of the Tampakan project that blocked the road. We have no troops in the roads,” Bravo said.

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MindaNews » Earth Day celeb marked with protest vs Tampakan project; protesters blocked

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MindaNews » Earth Day celeb marked with protest vs Tampakan project; protesters blocked.

By Bong S. Sarmiento
April 22, 2012

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/22 April) — Hundreds of protesters flocked to Tampakan, South Cotabato to mark Earth Day on Sunday morning only to be blocked before they could march in the rich copper-gold fields assigned to Sagittarius Mines, Inc., Ryan Lariba, spokesperson of  the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region, said.

Lariba said their Solidarity Mission caravan was blocked in Barangay Pula Bato en route to the mines development site.

“This is plain harassment, we only want to peacefully air our support to the Lumads (indigenous peoples) who are against the Tampakan mining project,” he said in a telephone interview.

said some 500 individuals on board several vehicles from the religious, indigenous peoples and militant groups were bound for Bong Mal but two pick-up vehicles stood on their way.

He accused Sagittarius Mines and the 27th Infantry Battalion to be behind the blockade.

Bong Mal is the boundary between Tampakan town and Kiblawan, Davao del Sur that serves as a crucial artery in the mines development site.

John Arnaldo, Sagittarius Mines, corporate communications manager, said the company is are of  plans by some anti-mining groups to stage protest rallies and that it has “has always respected, and will continue to respect, the rights of communities to express their views and concerns through peaceful protest.”

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[In the news] Bishop marks golden jubilee with anti-mining calls -MindaNews

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MindaNews » Bishop marks golden jubilee with anti-mining calls.

By Bong S. Sarmiento
April 11, 2012

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/10 April) — Diocese of Marbel Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez marked the 50th year of his priestly ministry yesterday with a late afternoon thanksgiving mass where hundreds of parishioners offered prayers for the protection of the environment from the impact of large-scale mining in the area.

For 30 years now, Gutierrez has been the bishop of Marbel, whose pastoral jurisdiction includes the town of Tampakan, South Cotabato, host of the copper and gold project of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc.

Under his leadership, the diocese has been at the forefront in the struggle against the Tampakan project, which is planned to go on commercial stream in 2016.

To commemorate his golden jubilee, Gutierrez celebrated a special mass, concelebrated by at least two dozens bishops from across the country and numerous priests under the diocesan territory.

One of the prayers read by a layperson included an appeal for government officials to help the Church in protecting the environment because it is God’s creation, apparently referring to the Tampakan copper-gold project.

“[May the Lord God] hear the prayers of our people,” the bishop responded.

Pope Benedict XVI has written a letter, which was read during the mass, to congratulate Gutierrez for being the bishop of Marbel for three decades.

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[In the news] 4 Mindanao bishops nix lifting of open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato -MindaNews

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MindaNews » 4 Mindanao bishops nix lifting of open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato.

By Bong Montesa
April 4, 2012

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/03 April) – Four senior Catholic prelates in Mindanao have joined hands to shoot down moves to lift the open-bit mining ban in South Cotabato, an imposition that threatens the massive Tampakan copper-gold project.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez of the Diocese of Marbel, Bishop Guillermo Afable of the Diocese of Digos and Bishop Romulo dela Cruz of the Diocese of Kidapawan have petitioned the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato to refrain from amending the open pit mining ban contained in its environment code.

The ban on open-pit mining was seen as an obstacle to the plans of Sagittarius Mines, Inc. to commercially develop the Tampakan project, which has an estimated capital requirement of $5.9 billion.

In June 2010, then governor and now Second District Rep. Daisy Avance Fuentes approved the environment code that bans open pit mining in the province. Pro-mining groups eventually asked the SP to reconsider the ban on open pit mining so that Sagittarius Mines could proceed without a hitch.

The bishops recently filed their petition to the SP with the attached signatures of about 30,000 residents from the four dioceses to maintain the prohibition on open-pit mining.

“We are determined to protect and promote the integrity of God’s creation by not allowing the senseless destruction of 1,087 flora and 289 fauna many of which are endemic to Mindanao,” the bishops said in the resolution.

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[In the news] 10 R12 schools increase tuition fees -MindaNews

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MindaNews » 10 R12 schools increase tuition fees.

By Allen V. Estabillo
March 28, 2012

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/27 March) – Ten of the 26 colleges and universities in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region have set another round of increases in tuition and other school fees starting June, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) revealed.

Dr. Eloisa Paderanga, CHED Region 12 director, said they were formally informed of the new fee increases based on documents submitted to their office by the concerned colleges and universities.

Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

“We’re currently reviewing the submitted documents based on the guidelines set by the Commission,” Paderanga said.

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[In the news] Transport strike set in Cotabato areas, Caraga -MindaNews

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MindaNews » Transport strike set in Cotabato areas, Caraga.

By Allen V. Estabillo, MindaNews.com
March 14, 2012

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/13 March) – Transport groups here and in nearby provinces of Sarangani and South Cotabato are preparing to launch a massive transport strike on Thursday in the wake of the continuing increase in fuel prices.

Larry Villegas, chair of the Transport Integrated for Restructuring of Economic Services (Tires) here, said they decided to stage a strike to protest the “unending” oil price hikes and compel the national
government to act on the matter.

“We’re calling on the government to scrap the VAT (value-added tax) on fuel to help ease our present situation,” he said in the vernacular.

Villegas, who also heads the South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos chapter of national transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Transport Operators Nationwide (Piston), said they are presently coordinating with other transport organizations in the area to join the planned strike.

In this city, he said the strike will start at around 4 a.m. In various choke points and will end at 3 p.m.

“Aside from this, we’re also planning to stage massive protests on a weekly basis,” Villegas said in a radio interview.

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[In the news] Opposition stunts growth of PH mining industry, PCCI admits -MindaNews

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MindaNews » Opposition stunts growth of PH mining industry, PCCI admits.

By Bong S. Sarmiento
February 28, 2012

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/27 February) – The huge potential of the country’s mining industry has not moved forward due to the strong opposition by environmentalist, church groups and local politicians, a major business group admitted.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) cited as an example the Tampakan copper-gold project of Sagittarius Mines Inc., which is controlled by Xstrata Copper, the world’s fourth largest copper producer.

The Tampakan project experiences delays because of continued opposition by civil society and the provincial government, and the succeeding denial of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), it said in a statement on Saturday.

PCCI, the country’s largest business organization, said it was concerned over the impasse between mining and environmental concerns.

Owing to this, the group is calling on all stakeholders to gather “in an objective and intelligent discussion to come up with a rational and acceptable solution that will advance sustainable development, responsible mining and inclusive economic growth.”

The Philippines is ranked top five in the world for overall mineral reserves, which cover an estimated nine million hectares. Mineral reserves in the country are estimated at US$ 1.4 trillion.

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[In the news] South Cotabato taps NGO for cheaper meds -MindaNews

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MindaNews » South Cotabato taps NGO for cheaper meds.

By Allen V. Estabillo
February 24, 2012

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/23 February) – The provincial government of South Cotabato has linked up with a local non-government organization to help provide cheaper medicine packages for various surgical and medical needs of poor residents in the area.

South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. said they forged an agreement with the Dole Philippines-funded Mahintana Foundation to allow the group to supply P1.7 million worth of surgical and medicine packages for the use of poor patients of the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in nearby Koronadal City.

“This is to ensure the availability of ready and cheaper medicine packs for the surgical and medical operations that would be availed by our poor patients,” he told reporters.

Under the program, Pingoy said Mahintana will provide medicine packages for surgeries and other hospital services involving beneficiaries of the indigency program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth.

He said the cost of the medicine packs would be charged directly by the hospital to PhilHealth and the patients would not be paying anything upon availing them.

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