Lawyers ready suits vs coal mining

[GLT]

Lawyers ready suits vs coal mining


Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:39:00 08/26/2009

Filed Under: Environmental Issues, Mining and quarrying

VIRAC, CATANDUANES, Philippines—The local chapter of the Integrated
Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has issued a call for a “legal
revolution” against mining in any part of the island province.

“We are ready to initiate legal action against the authors and
perpetrators of the destruction and extinction of our island
paradise,” said a manifesto signed by lawyer Jose V. Cabrera, IBP
chapter president and governor for Bicol, and 10 other officers.

Expressing its vehement opposition to any form of mining, the IBP
called upon all Catandunganons and Bicolanos to condemn and oppose any
and all mining exploration, activities and applications on the island.

The manifesto said it was appealing to the energy and natural
resources departments, the provincial board and all municipal councils
in Catanduanes to deny any application for mining in any part of the
province.

Top critics

It said mining “will only benefit the greedy, the selfish and
arrogance of a few to the detriment of the people.”

The IBP manifesto was the latest in a wave of expressions of support
for the anti-mining stance of the Church, local officials, the
nongovernment organization Katandungan Kontra Mining, and top
provincial officials led by Governor Joseph Cua and the provincial
board.

An online petition launched last week by the Group of Environment
Enthusiasts of Catanduanes Mountaineering and Outdoor Club (Greencat)
has attracted 200 signatures so far.

The petition seeks to condemn the permit granted Monto Oro Resources
and Energy Inc. (Morei) to explore Catanduanes for coal deposits,
worth at least P6 billion.

The petition is at www.petition_online.com/03091976/petition_html.

Hearings set

Another group, the Philippine Association of X-Seminarians (Paxs),
expressed full support to the Church’s stand against mining in the
province.

Anti-mining groups were expected to raise pointed questions during the
first of three public hearings to be conducted by the Department of
Energy (DOE) on the planned coal exploration on Sept. 14 (not Aug. 27
as earlier reported) in Caramoran town.

Bishop Manolo delos Santos, of the Diocese of Virac, will be present
at the hearing with members of the broad coalition Katandungan Kontra
Mina.

The other public hearings are set Sept. 14 in Caramoran and Sept. 17
in Panganiban.



One mayor who asked not to be identified said DOE representatives had
written mayors in the province to invite them to attend the hearings.

But, the mayor said, the DOE officials also asked if it was possible
for the hearings to be attended only by mayors and members of town
councils.

The request, however, was quickly shot down by mayors who demanded
that the hearings be open to the public.

Alan del Valle, vice mayor of San Andres town, said DOE
representatives, accompanied by Jose de la Concha, exploration manager
of Monte Oro Resources and Energy Inc., had asked for an audience with
members of the town council. Fernan Gianan, Inquirer Southern Luzon