Senator Risa Hontiveros on Saturday, Jan. 11, urged the Senate to immediately hear Senate Resolution (SR) No. 459 to investigate the issues surrounding the mining operations in Sibuyan Island to establish accountabilities and responsibilities as soon as possible.
Hontiveros made the statement after her dialogue with residents of Sibuyan who have set up a barricade to protest against the operations of Altai Philippines Mining Corporation in that island.
“It may be about time to evict these illegal miners once and for all,’’ Hontiveros said.
The lady lawmaker said she has seen an illegal causeway.
‘’May cease and desist order na dapat sa operation pero nang pumunta ako doon, malinaw na may movement pa rin sa parte na sinabi na ngang bawal (There is a cease and desist order but it is clear there are movements in the mining operation),’’ she pointed out.’
“Kailangan din alamin sa imbestigasyon ang papel ng pulis o di kaya’y ng LGU hindi lang sa naganap na mining operations, kundi pati na sa nangyaring karahasan (There is also a need to investigate the role of the police or even the local government unit not only on the mining operation but also violence committed there),” she said.
During the dialogue, Hontiveros, together with lawyer Chel Diokno, answered questions from the residents, some of whom were calling for disciplinary actions against the local police involved in the scuffle.
“I join the residents in condemning the violence perpetrated against them during their peaceful protest. The mountains of Sibuyan and its residents should never be scarred again,” she emphasized.
In the dialogue, the residents also questioned the lenient punishment for Altai’s violations, adding that stricter penalties should be imposed on the mining company.
According to the residents, besides operating illegally, Altai also destroyed corals and plant species endemic to the island.
Due to Sibuyan’s distinction of being known as the “Galapagos of Asia” as well as the exceptionally high number of endemic flora and fauna, residents are also calling for Sibuyan to be declared as a ‘no-go zone’ for mining.
“The DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) need to study this ‘no-go zone’ proposal. Once my resolution is heard, the agencies will need to discuss and conclusively state whether or not extractive activities must be prohibited on Sibuyan,” Hontiveros said.
In the Alternative Minerals Management bill authored by Hontiveros, the senator also proposed that “mining in environmentally critical areas such as small island ecosystems, primary and secondary forests and watersheds shall be banned".
“Various stakeholders should be called in the Senate investigation. The DENR, MGB, LGU, and PNP, among others should properly answer the cries of the Sibuyanons,’’ she said.