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A big anti-mining protest, expected to draw 5,000 citizens of
Brooke’s Point town in Palawan, will be held Thursday starting
between 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the town’s plaza.
Protestant Pastor Job Lagrada, leader of the
anti-mining coalition, Kilusang Sagip, told The Manila Times the
protestors will march from the various barangays of Brooke’s
Point, some coming from the mountain mining sites, and converge at
the town plaza.
He said the town’s officials are on the
anti-mining coalition’s side.
Made up of the indigenous Palawanon tribe but
supported by urban dwelling Palawan citizens, the anti-mining
coalition members have complained against the drilling and other
exploration activities done by the Macro Asia Corp., the Ipilan
Nickel Corp., Lebach Mining, as well as the projected activities of
the Celestial Mining Exploration Corp.
Lagrada said the mining companies have no
permits of any kind from the local government of Brooke’s Point.
The local police detachments and barangay
officials impounded some of the mining equipment—including heavy
machinery—used by these firms but were forced to give them back.
It turned out that only the Department of Energy and Natural
Resources has the power to initiate prosecution proceedings against
illegal mining operations.
The Environment department has been ignoring the
pleas of Kilusang Sagip and other anti-mining activists.
Lagrada also told The Times the mining companies
have organized some pseudo tribal and indigenous people to rise in
their support.
The pastor, who runs a radio program, said he
and the protesting tribals hope to get the attention of President
Gloria Arroyo through the protest.
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