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By Gene Basilio,
Correspondent
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya: Gov.
Luisa Lloren Cuaresma announced
through local radio station dwRV that she and all the
provincial officials are “not intimidated” by the fatal shooting
on Thursday of barangay (village) chief Paulino Baguilat of Didipio
barangay, Kasibu town, the site of the controversial Didipio Gold
and Copper mining project. The project is being undertaken by
Australian firm Oceana Gold Philippines Inc.
Calling the death of
Baguilat as an injustice to Didipio residents, Cuaresma asked
authorities “to conduct a thorough investigation” of the
shooting and to determine whether the incident was caused by a
supposed rift between sectors supporting and opposing the mining
project.
“We are not afraid to continue
with our fight for what is supposed to be ours and the killing
should not be a reason for us to withdraw from our purpose in going
there,” the governor said.
Vice-Governor Jose Gambito said
the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) has passed a
resolution authorizing Cuaresma to file civil and criminal charges
against Oceana Gold Philippines Inc. “for defying (the board’s)
ordinance on local taxes.”
Earlier, Secretary Lito Atienza
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
issued a statement allowing Oceana Gold to continue with its
earth-moving activities. Under the Financial Technical Assistance
Agreement, Atienza said, the Australian company is exempted from
paying quarry and other local fees.
Cuaresma, however, said that
Atienza has been inconsistent with his statemenst. During their
previous meeting, the governor noted, the DENR secretary told her that Oceana Gold should pay local taxes.
Cuaresma challenged the
Australian firm to face the provincial government in court. She
dismissed rumors that she may be in error under the law and may face
legal charges because of her issuance of a cease-and-desist order
and her subsequent freeze order on the firm’s operation.
“I am bound to implement the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan ordinance based on the Local Government
Code because if I don’t, I would be liable to the people of Nueva
Vizcaya,” she said.
Baguilat, 55, was said to have
been shot at least four times by unidentified men on May 29. Reports
said that he supported the Australian mining project.
Oceana Gold describes the Didipio
deposits as “one of the highest grade gold-copper porphyries in
the world” and the Philippine government is expecting some $700
million in tax revenues over the the mine’s life span. A porphyry
is a rock consisting of feldspar crystals embedded in a compact dark
red or purple ground mass.
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