Green advocates stirred by women resiliency vs. prime mining company

“This is a peaceful community, tension amongst us arises after the mining community encroached our village- narrated by Neneng Gamus, a mother of two children, a barangay councilor, and one of the mothers’ in the fore front of defending their land and life in Anislagan, Placer, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.”

CAGAYAN Journal (PR / Nov 28) - Alternative Law Groups (ALG), the biggest law groups in the Philippines composed of 21 laws groups with their assisted community representatives gathered for a two-day forum in sharing legal strategies of communities in defending the environment threatened by development aggressions.

“This is venue of lawyers and law groups in handling environment (EnDefense) cases of marginalized sectors to share interventions, legal actions, and learnings in the course of handling cases” narrated by ALG national coordinator lawyer Marlon Manuel.

ALG visited Barangay Anislagan, one of the communities supported by the EnDefense project. Anislagan is an agricultural village on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao with two thousand residents has vowed to keep their land protected from one of the world’s largest mining conglomerates, Anglo American Plc., and free of mining projects.

In March 2007, Kalayaan Copper Gold Resources (KCGR), a joint venture between Britain’s Anglo American and the Manila Mining Company (a subsidiary of Lepanto) was awarded an exploration permit covering an area the approximate size of three hundred hectares.

In this community, women have an important role to till, plant, and harvest the fields where corn, rice, a diversity of vegetables, coconuts, and other cash crops are grown.

Significantly, Anislagan is also the site of large spring water aquifers from which water is drawn and distributed to surrounding communities.

Knowing that the development of a gold mine would mean an end to their agricultural livelihoods, and to their locally accessible clean water sources, residents have been determined to keep mining companies off of the green fields they consider gold according to local councilor Neneng Gamos.

As early as 2002, residents of Anislagan quickly mobilized themselves into a multi-sectoral environmental watchdog organization that became known as the Anislagan Bantay Kalikasan Task Force (ABAKATAF).

This diverse collective includes village councilors, farmers, women, youth, and parishioners from different churches, who have continued to mobilize together over the years.

Their vision of Anislagan is for it to remain a productive agricultural zone that is free of mining, with clean water for drinking and irrigation--a resource of the ‘commons’ to be shared and protected. In particular, women activists in Anislagan, have tirelessly committed to protect the life, land and resources of all in their community.

Men and women have now returned to their land to prepare for the next planting season but vowing to remain vigilant and waiting for the next Church bell to toll for the whole community to block the next drilling machine coming to explore their village.

Carl Cesar Rebuta

Team Leader

Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center- Cagayan de Oro Regional Office

09053272676

Cocoy.rebuta@lrcksk.org

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Gold Star Daily News

Shippers mull Mindanao link

By BEN BALCE - Correspondent Updated November 27, 2009 12:00 AM
MISAMIS ORIENTAL - Some 200 stakeholders who gathered Thursday at PhivIdec Industrial Estate, the province economic zone, pushed for the establishment of the North to South Mindanao link to enable greater mobility of goods and people in this southern Philippines island of Mindanao.

Participants to the two-day conference include international players like foreign shipping industries also attended the two-day confab with delegations from the shippers, shipping lines, cargo forwarders, service providers, and representatives from private sector and government agencies.

“The main focus of this conference is the logistics infrastructure. Linkages of Northern to Southern Mindanao, a main corridor like a Davao-Cagayan expressway,” Rep. Rufus Rodriguez , (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), said.

Rodriguez who welcomed hundred participants said several infrastructures were expected to be built in key places in Mindanao to fast track its economic development.

Rodriguez said, like the ongoing infra-projects he started in Cagayan de Oro early this year it would be of big help if the plan fully materialized.

“The ongoing projects like the Laguindingan Airport, the planning of the Mindanao Railway System which will connect the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro is the start idea of a logistics corridor,” said Rodriguez.

In Cagayan de Oro, he said the approval of an overpass to be built in Barangay Puerto worth P230- million will help the land cargoes from Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro.

“That overpass will help cargoes from Bukidnon as it will be connecting to the new planned P1.4 billion coastal super highway from Puerto to Macabalan port,” said Rodriguez.

The Mindanao Federation of Shippers’ Association (MINFESA) Inc. who spearheaded the conference made some proposal as it will presented during the said conference with the theme: “Southern-Northern Mindanao Logistics Corridor: Key to Fast Track its Economic Development.”

MINFESA President Vic Lagdamen said the “expressway” would not necessarily be the one passing through the current national highway, as long as it will “facilitate for a faster movement of goods and people.”

He also said while the Northern-Mindanao link is being pushed as a main corridor, the proposed integrated logistics and transportation plan should also include the Zamboanga, Caraga and other regions in Mindanao.

Mindanao is yet to have an integrated logistics and transportation plan, he said.

He said the plan should figure significantly with the recent infrastructure boost in Mindanao, wherein major infrastructure were recently built like the Mindanao Container Terminal, along with the expansion of seaports and airports, and improvement of national roads.

Business Growth Development program manager Renne P. Subido said that the integrated logistic highway or corridor that would connect two big economic centers in the region the Northern and Southern part of Mindanao is planned by Minfesa in cooperation with some groups like Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM).

“The GEM will give some technical assistance and part of the conference’ resolution and one of the co-funding groups,” said Subido.

Gold Star Daily News

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Business Insight Malaya | National

Ampatuan scion surrenders
Is now detained at NBI

BY RAYMOND AFRICA, VICTOR REYES and EVANGELINE DE VERA

MAYOR Andal Ampatuan Jr., of Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao, yesterday voluntarily turned himself over to authorities led by Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs.Ampatuan, principal suspect in the Monday killing of 57 people, mostly members of the rival Mangudadatu clan and media men, had been given up to 10 a.m. yesterday to surrender, according to Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

Ampatuan was fetched by Dureza and Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, chief of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command, from the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak town, before noon.A military helicopter then took Ampatuan to General Santos City, where Dureza turned him over to Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera and NBI officials.

There he was subjected to inquest proceedings based on a complaint of multiple murder filed by Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town, before Justice department officials.Ampatuan Jr., who was not placed in handcuffs, denied any role in the massacre.

"Wala pong katutuhanan yan, wala pong katutuhan yan," Ampatuan Jr. said responding to a reporter at the General Santos City airport.

From General Santos City, Ampatuan was flown to Manila.He arrived around 7: 40 p.m. and was detained at the NBI main office along Taft avenue.Prosecutors "will have to resolve the case within 36 hours from detention," Devanadera said.

Ampatuan, in an ambush interview at the NBI, said: "Napakadali para magbintang, Dapat may ebidensiya. Wala akong kasalanan. Ang may kasalanan ay MILF, Umbra Kato.

"Umbra Kato is the commander of the 105th Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He is among three commanders tagged as rogues for attacking civilian communities in parts of Central Mindanao in July last year.

The Mangudadatus were on their way Monday to the Shariff Aguak capitol to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael who is running for governor. Their convoy was stopped by about 100 armed men in Saniag village. The armed men then herded them to the remote hillside village of Salman in the same town, where their bodies where found in shallow graves also on Monday.

The Mangudadatus since Day 1 have been pointing to the Ampatuans as behind the massacre. Esmael has said his wife, who was among the fatalities, had named Ampatuan, son of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr.

Hundreds of soldiers and policemen secured the Shariff Aguak capitol as Dureza and Ferrer fetched Ampatuan.

A company from the 64th Infantry Battalion and a number of tanks were deployed in the capitol hours earlier in anticipation of what the military said was possible "resistance" from the Ampatuan camp.

Militiamen and civilian volunteers believed to be sympathetic to the Ampatuans were not able to resist because "they were surprised," said Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, chief of the AFP public information office.

"Luckily, the SCAAs (Special Cafgu Active Auxiliary) and the CVOs (Civilian Volunteer Organization) did not resist. Instead, they cooperated," he said.Dureza, Ferrer and Ampatuan stayed in the capitol for about half an hour.

Puno said the chopper carrying Ampatuan Jr. going to General Santos City was shot at by unknown people from the ground.

"Had Ampatuan refused to board the plane that would take him to General Santos City en route to Manila, both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP were prepared to take action and exert all physical force necessary to ensure that he was brought to inquest by the Department of Justice," he said.

COMMITMENT FULFILLED

Puno said Ampatuan Jr. was placed under perimeter surveillance from the time he was implicated in the killings.

He also said Dureza first talked to the Ampatuans on Monday in the provincial capitol on Ampatuan Jr.’s possible involvement. He said he had asked the family to have the mayor available anytime for any investigation.

Ferrer said there had been negotiations with the members of the Ampatuan family to turn over Ampatuan Jr. to the government and the family fulfilled its "commitment for them to voluntarily surrender (Ampatuan) to the authorities.

"He said Dureza, who chairs the crisis committee, arrived at the capitol around 11 a.m. and Ampatuan went out of the capitol 30 minutes later.

Ferrer said there was no resistance from the Ampatuan family. "In fact the (Ampatuan) family was the one who turned him over. There were no armed guards or bodyguards. Of course it was normal that the family cried as he boarded the helicopter."

DISARMED

Government functions have ceased since the massacre, and the military deployed a company of soldiers at the town halls of Shariff Aguak and Ampatuan towns, which are bailiwicks of the Ampatuans.

Brawner said the military disarmed all of the 357 government militiamen in the province, mostly based at the provincial capitol. The military had issued an order last Wednesday, disbanding all the SCAA (Special Cafgu Active Auxiliary) companies in the province, pending probe on their possible involvement in the abduction and killings.

Earlier reports indicated government militiamen were among the 100 armed men who intercepted the Ampatuan convoy.

Ferrer expressed confidence the surrender of Ampatuan Jr. will ease tension in the province.

Ferrer could not say until when the soldiers will deployed at the provincial capitol and the adjoining towns.

But he said the soldiers were also tasked to disarm civilians to prevent more violence, and to ensure that no Cafgu or CVO posts would be maintained.

Ferrer also said the military and the police will be giving security personnel to both the Ampatuan and Mangudadatu clans.

"The military and police units will determine who are going to secure both families when they travel, their residences. It’s also imperative that these security personnel know each other so they won’t clash," he said.

RELIEVED BUT…

The Mangudadatu clan said they are relieved that the government had taken into custody Ampatuan Jr. but they want other clan members arrested.

Madasser Mangudadatu, a member of the ARMM-Regional Legislative Assembly and brother of Esmael, would not name names although he accused the elder Ampatuan of ordering the killing."

Let’s just wait, all of them are just there but the government should ensure that justice will be served. We are hoping that justice will prevail here. Many want the truth, many are seeking justice for this heinous crime," he said.

Madasser said they are hoping that the prosecution of Ampatuan Jr. would proceed for the sake of those whose lives were claimed and their families.

Madasser also said it is not only the Mangudadatus who lost their loved ones, and therefore the other victims should be also be given attention.

"The focus should not only be on the Mangudadatus because it’s not only us who lost loved ones. Many have lost their fathers, mothers. It’s not only the Mangudadatus who are grieving, we also have the Christian brothers and friends from the media," he said.

INQUEST TENSION

In General Santos City, the inquest proceeding which started at 2:45 p.m. was presided by Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño and City prosecutor Edilberto Jamora.Ampatuan was accompanied by lawyer Siegfried Fortun.

Some 15 minutes into the proceedings, tension gripped the small airport lounge when Mangudadatu arrived, raised his voice while pointing to Ampatuan as the mastermind."Mainit ang dating ni Mangudadatu... so the prosecutors told him to calm down and sit on the other side of the room," Olivia Sudaria of the Philippine Information Agency told justice beat reporters.

Mangudadatu affirmed his affidavit, which served as the complaint against Ampatuan. After the inquest, a fiscal may file the case before the court. During this period, the suspect may opt to request for a formal preliminary investigation wherein he may submit a counter-affidavit.

Devanadera, back in Manila, said criminal charges will be filed today against Ampatuan Jr. before the Cotabato City regional trial court.

The filing of the case is to meet the 36-hour requirement after inquest proceedings in the filing of charges involving felony.

Devanadera said both the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatu have agreed that the place of detention be at the NBI.Devanadera said aside from the affidavit-complaint filed by Esmael, seven others have been received by the DOJ from the families of victims of the Maguindanao massacre.

She said that Ampatuan was considered a prime suspect, but they are still gathering information as to the identity of the other suspects."

(Ampatuan) voluntarily surrendered, he had no choice. Pressured na sila. All law enforcers were in the area." she said.

Devanadera also told reporters that she has made a request at the Supreme Court for the transfer of the venue from the Cotabato court to an RTC in Manila due to security reasons.

Meanwhile, Ampatuan and some of his family members have been placed under the Bureau of Immigration’s watchlist.

PREMEDITATED

Verzosa said based on the initial investigation, the killings were premeditated.

"The initial assessment on the succession of events, it could have been premeditated. There was a plan, this was planned. We will reinforce these findings by continuing our investigation," he said.

He said the backhoe owned by the provincial government of Maguindanao and which was apparently used to dig the mass graves is one of the vital pieces of evidence.

Andres Caro II, PNP director for operations, said the PNP would also look into the possible involvement of the other members of the Ampatuan clan and they might be invited for questioning under a possible conspiracy angle.

Caro, in a briefing in Malacañang, said it took a while before the young Ampatuan was identified as a suspect because of the "complex situation" and there was no immediate evidence linking him to the massacre.

Caro also said the PNP has heightened its alert in Metro Manila. He said the Metro Manila police are already aware of the whereabouts of supporters of the Ampatuans and even the Mangudadatus in the metropolis.

SACKED

PNP chief Jesus Verzosa relieved Chief Supt. Paisal Umpa, regional police chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, to pave way for an impartial investigation of his men linked to the killings.

Umpa will be replaced by Senior Supt. Bienvenido Latag, ARMM deputy chief for administration. Umpa is now detailed at the Directorate for Intelligence in Camp Crame.Aside from Umpa, Verzosa also ordered the administrative relief of Insp. Armando Mariga, group director of the 1506th Police Mobile Group, and Insp. Saudi Mokamad, group director of the 1507th PMG for their possible involvement in the murders.

Also relieved was the 20-strong Ampatuan police force.Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, AFP vice chief of staff who represented AFP chief Gen. Victor Ibrado in a press conference in Camp Crame, said they also deactivated four civilian units in Maguindanao and have placed its 347 men under investigation. The civilian volunteers were also disarmed.

RESTRICTIVE CUSTODY

Puno said four police officers in Maguindanao who were placed under restrictive custody at the CIDG office in Cotabato City for their possible involvement in the crime were also flown in to Manila. They will also be detained in Camp Crame.

They are Senior Supt. Agusana Maguid, Maguindanao police chief; Chief Insp. Sukarno Dicay, deputy police chief; Senior Insp. Ariel Diongson, group director 1508th Provincial Mobile Group; and SPO2 Badawi Bakal, officer in charge of the Datu Ampatuan police station.

To ensure there will be no escalation of hostilities, the AFP and the PNP took over the provincial capitol building in Shariff Aguak, the town hall of Ampatuan, and the ARMM capitol perimeter.

Government forces have also secured main highway connecting these three installations. – With Jocelyn Montemayor and Reuters

Business Insight Malaya | National

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Normin shippers pushes North to South Mindanao link in logistics confab

CAGAYAN Journal (Ben Balce/Nov 26) - The two-day Mindanao logistics conference started Wednesday pushed the Northern to Southern Mindanao link, which would enable greater mobility of goods and people.

“The main focus on this conference is the logistics infrastructure. Linkages of Northern to Southern Mindanao, a main corridor like a Davao-Cagayan expressway,” said Cagayan de Oro 2ndDistrict Congressman Rufus Rodriguez.

Rodriguez who welcomed hundred participants said several infrastructures were expected to be built in key places in Mindanao to fast track it economic development.

Rodriguez said, like the ongoing infra-projects he started in Cagayan de Oro early this year would now be a big help if the plan fully be materialized.

“The ongoing projects like the Laguindingan Airport, the planning of the Mindanao Railway System which will connect the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro is the start idea of a logistics corridor,” said Rodriguez.

In Cagayan de Oro, he said the approval of an overpass to be built in Barangay Puerto worth P230- million will help the land cargoes from Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro.

“That overpass will help cargoes from Bukidnon as it will be connecting to the new planned coastal super highway from Puerto to Macabalan port," said Rodriguez.

The conference held at the Phividec Industrial Authority in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

The Mindanao Federation of Shippers’ Association (MINFESA) Inc. who spearheaded the conference made some proposal as it will presented during the said conference with the theme: "Southern-Northern Mindanao Logistics Corridor: Key to Fast Track its Economic Development."

MINFESA President Vic Lagdamen in a statement said the "expressway" would not necessarily be the one passing through the current national highway, as long as it will "facilitate for a faster movement of goods and people."

He also said while the Northern-Mindanao link is being pushed as a main corridor, the proposed integrated logistics and transportation plan should also include the Zamboanga, Caraga and other regions in Mindanao.

Mindanao is yet to have an integrated logistics and transportation plan, he said.

He said the plan should figure significantly with the recent infrastructure boost in Mindanao, wherein major infrastructure were recently built like the Mindanao Container Terminal, along with the expansion of seaports and airports, and improvement of national roads.

Business Growth Development program manager Renne P. Subido said that the integrated logistic highway or corridor that would connect two big economic centers in the region the Northern and Southern part of Mindanao is planned by Minfesa in cooperation with some groups like Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM).

"The GEM will give some technical assistance and part of the conference' resolution and one of the co-funding groups," said Subido.

The gathered sectoral issues and concerns during consultations in Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga also presented in the conference.

Lagdamen said they will not only forward the conference resolutions to concerned agencies like the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) but to aspiring presidential candidates saying that "the new administration should already have a buy-in into the idea."

Some international players like foreign shipping industries were attended the 200-strong delegation of shippers, shipping lines, cargo forwarders, service providers, and representatives from private sector and government agencies.

The port director of the Muara Port in Brunei Darussalam is also expected to be one of the conference speakers on today's (Nov 26) conference, which would highlight port and infrastructure development thrust in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga) sub-regional cooperation, Lagdamen said.

"Luzon is ahead of us in planning its own integrated logistics corridor and building expressways, interconnecting its ports and airports. It is high time for Mindanao to plan its own future and face the global challenge," a statement from the conference brochure says.

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SurSur town fights big bucks mining company

CAGAYAN Journal (Ben Balce/Nov 17) - Cantilan, Surigao del Sur- Some two thousand Cantilangnons converged at the triangle in the highway crossing in Brgy. Pag-antayan yesterday to install a checkpoint aimed to prevent Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation from transporting its ore to its reported illegally constructed stockyard in Brgy. Consuelo.

Cantilan Bay as threatened by mining in Surigao Sur.

It will be manned round the clock by the local police and volunteers.

The stockyard which is on the shoreline violates local ordinance No. 18-2008 prohibiting the construction of stockyards for the purpose of storing mineral ore within 500 meters of the shoreline and was constructed without a permit from the municipality.

At 8: a.m., local officials and staff held a flag ceremony at the town kiosk. Thereafter, the mayor (Guardo) led a one kilometer march to the triangle passing through the MMDC offices. She was joined by around 500 placard bearing fisher folks, farmers, religious groups, teachers and students from Saint Michael’s College.

Waiting at the triangle were more farmers and students from Surigao del Sur Polytechnic College and Cantilan National High School. A mass was held by Fr. Pete Ubalde. He was assisted by priests from Carrascal - Fr. Paeng Batoliño; Madrid - Fr. Bebot Pastera; Parang - Fr. Ritchelle Espinola; and visiting priest, Fr. Tito Maratas who grew up in Brgy. Palasao, a rice-growing community. Fr. Pete in his homily appealed to the parishioners to be honest, sincere and open about their "anti-mining" stand. He also challenged the LGU to sustain the activity.

A program followed where the mayor exhorted everyone to join the cause, as it was the cause of the municipality.

Vicente Iriberri, Vice President, Baywatch talked on the violations and inactions of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and challenged all those who wanted to join the 2010 elections to unite and not get into the trap of the mining companies to ‘divide and rule’ by pushing for two anti-mining groups to run for local elections.

He also emphasized that the 2010 elections is neither about personalities, nor partisan politics but about Cantilan, the watershed, and life. Datu James Bat-ao spoke on the violation of IP rights, while Amping Ortega, President, Surigao del Surigao Irrigators Federation (SURIF) spoke about the opposition of the NIA and the Irrigators’ Association.

Gen. William K. Hotchkiss III (Ret.), President, Cantilan Bank, described the activity as "People Power in Action" He also shared about the role of a Cantilangnon during the EDSA revolution. He challenged everyone, if willing, to die for the cause as he is not only committed to support the cause in his personal capacity but the resources of the bank as well if only to stop mining in Cantilan. Hon. Junjun Sunga for his part, declared that "Cantilan is worth dying for" borrowing the words of Ninoy Aquino.

The activity is the first of a series of activities planned by the Multi-Sectoral Environmental Protection Task Force led by Mayor Tomasa Guardo to fight the mining company. Earlier in the week, Baywatch launched its Information and Education Campaign and aptly titled its slogan, “Bangon KanTilang, Mina Hunongon, Agus sa Tubig Padajunon.”

Although MMDC was issued a “Notice to Proceed” with its developmental activities by the Mines Geosciences Bureau Director Horacio C. Ramos, it does not have the necessary permits from the Local Government Units nor does it have endorsements from the LGUs, necessary requirements in the Philippine Mining Act.

It also violated pertinent provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991, particularly Sections 26, Duty of National Government Agencies in the Maintenance of Ecological Balance and Section 27, Prior Consultations Required.

Cantilan, Carrascal and Madrid LGUs issued resolutions opposing the MPSA of MMDC because it is located in the watersheds of the rivers that supply the three towns’ irrigation systems and domestic water supply. The Sanggunian Panlalawigan refused to endorse their MPSA for the same reasons.

The Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) granted MMDC mandates the mining company to delineate and exclude from its mining operation all areas within its MPSA that area declared as Watershed Forest Reserve. On March 23, 2009, President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo issued Proclamation 1747 declaring that area where the mining site of MMDC is situated as Critical Watershed Forest Reserve.

MMDC is the respondent to the administrative case filed by the Irrigators’ Association, Baywatch, and Lovers of Nature Foundation with the DENR for violations of the Philippine Mining Act.

For Details, Contact:
Emma Y. Hotchkiss
Email: emmayh@yahoo.com
Vicente A. Iriberri
tinty57@yahoo.com
Cantilan, Surigao del Sur 8317
Philippines