Remember the Truth Commission of 2010 for graft and corruption cases formed by the previous government (but later declared unconstitutional)? Did you know that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) once made a call for the formation of a similar body to deal with environmental crimes? And the 'numero uno' concern of the good bishop was precisely to deal with the 'Marcopper mining disaster' of Marinduque? That was in July 2010.
So the question that may still be asked is:
Will the PLAIN AND SIMPLE TRUTH behind the Marinduque environmental disasters ever be revealed? Answers to the questions could only be ferreted out probably in a point-blank manner that only such a commission, indeed, might be capable of doing.
We are not pinning our hopes that such an idea should be proposed again. This is to drive home the point that this Marinduque saga engulfing our lives reached a point when such calls, if only to ferret out the Truth, were implored and prayed for by the CBCP.
Apparently, the many Oratio Imperata invoked all those long and difficult years of struggle had the devil, whose hand may indeed be found in the details, still having the last laugh.
On the Truth Commission for environmental crimes
"Catholic bishops made the call as they lamented that many environmental crimes lack closure and many affected communities continue to suffer.
"San Fernando Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David noted that for one, no mining company has been prosecuted so far when it comes to mining disasters.
“We are also seeking environmental justice," David said in an article on the website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
"One of the disasters that the prelates hope the government would look into is the "Marcopper mining disaster" in Marinduque, the country’s largest mining disaster so far.
"The incident involves the Marcopper Mining Corporation which has been carrying out an open-pit copper mining operation in Mt. Tapian, Marinduque since the 1970s..
"Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the mining industry in the country has been a “curse" to many people." = GMA News
Incidentally, today's relevant headline is about shutting down some mines. Your turn to ferret out some simple truth!
"We'll be really, really strict. There's some [mining operations] really that have to be closed," she told dzMM.
Around 30 mining firms were issued show cause orders to explain why their operations shouldn't be suspended or shut down, she added.
"The decisions that we're making are not political. I'm not looking at who owns the mines. What's important is the welfare of those people who live there," Lopez said.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources earlier suspended operations of gold, copper, and nickle ore mines for failing the audit. - ANS-CBN News
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| Heartrending recent photo of residents of Brgy. Binunga (Boac), crossing the acid mine contaminated river just to receive Typhoon Nina relief goods. River impassable to vehicles. Screenshot from John Pelaez video |
Environment Secretary Gina Lopez will announce on Thursday her final decision whether to close down 30 mining operations that failed their initial audit a few months ago.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reviewed the audit results made known on Sept. 27, which “ordered suspended” 10 mining operations and “recommended for suspension” the operations of 20 others.
The audit team reportedly found that the mining operations violated the terms and conditions of their environmental compliance certificate (ECC), the DENR rules on mine safety and health standards, and implementing rules of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
DENR said out of the 41 operating metallic mines in the country, only 11 complied with environmental standards.
DENR gave the erring mining companies the opportunity to explain why their operation should not be suspended.
Ordered suspended
The 10 mines that were ordered suspended belong to Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines Inc.; Berong Nickel Corp.; Citinickel Mines and Development Corp.; Claver Mineral Development Corp.; Emir Mineral Resources Corp.; Eramen Minerals Inc.;
LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc.; Mt. Sinai Mining Exploration & Development Corp.; Ore Asia Mining and Development Corp.; and Zambales Diversified Metals Corp.
The 20 mines that face suspension belong to AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration and Development Corp. (Parcels 1 and 2B); Adnama Mining Resources Inc.; Agata Mining Ventures Inc.; Benguet Corp.; Carrascal Nickel Corp.; Century Peak Corp. (Casiguran Nickel and Rapid City Nickel projects); CTP Construction and Mining Corp.;
Hinatuan Mining Corp.; Krominco Inc.; Filminera Resources Corp./Philippine Gold Processing and Refining Corp.; Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co.; Libjo Mining Corp.; Marcventures Mining and Development Corp.; OceanaGold Phils. Inc.; Oriental Synergy Mining Corp.; Oriental Vision Mining Philippines Corp.; Sinosteel Philippines H.Y. Mining Corp.; Strongbuilt Mining Development Corp.; Wellex Mining Corp.; and SR Metals Inc.
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| Tunnel in Maguila-guila Siltation Dam (Mogpog) today. |
Lopez earlier said the DENR would not hesitate to shut down mining operations found to have violated environmental, health and safety regulations and standards.
A week after assuming office on July 1, she created an audit team to look into possible violations of environmental safeguards of all 41 operating metallic mines.
The mining audit focused on issues of safety and health, environmental management, social development, mining tenement and standards under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and laws on hazardous and solid waste management.
“We will not just look at the technical side but also the social practices—what are the effects of these firms on the residents, on the water supply, among others,” Lopez had said before the audit began. Source: Inquirer
