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www.mindanaodailybalita.com VOL. 1, No. 264
Cagayan de Oro City
Monday
March 26, 2012
House inquiry vs. mining firm sought BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur––A lawmaker is calling for an immediate House inquiry on the alleged human rights abuses committed by TVI Resources Development (Phils), Inc. against smallscale miners and Subanen in sitio Balabag in Barangay Depore here. Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Partylist Rep. Antonio L. Trinio filed House Resolution no. 2246 urging the House committee on national cultural communities to conduct an urgent investigation, in aid of legislation. Trinio said that there were reports that the giant mining firm backed by militias under the 1st Infantry Division of the Philippine Army committed human rights abuses against smallscale miners and lumads. The TVI Pacific, Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian mining company that focused on the production, development, exploration,
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DENR official to look into fraudulent CLOs By ED N. MALIZA, Correspondent
CAGAYAN de Oro City––A senior official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 10 is now in the process of verifying the reported issuances of Certificate of Lumber Origins (CLOs) that were allegedly issued fraudulently. Regional Technical Director for Forestry Demetelo Obsioma said that he will verify the record if the report has already been forwarded to Manila. Obsioma is apparently referring to the issuance of alleged fake CLOs where payments allegedly did not go to the coffers of the government. “Bag-o pa baya ko dinhi sa office. Ako lang ipatanaw kung naa na ba mi report niana kay murag nadunggan nako nga gihimo-an na
claiming that they have been digging gold in the area since 1980. The area is currently the site of around 600 houses and establishments where over 3,000 small-scale miners, their dependents, and local Subanen lived and worked. Militarization “In September 2011, the TVIRD through its Balabag Security Group, developed and implemented a company security operation known as “Oplan Bonkag” (OperaSCAA confiscate illegally mining supplies from small tion Plan Dismantle), for the Scale miners (Frontliner.tk) INQUIRY/PAGE 5 and acquisition of resource 30,000 of which 60 percent projects in the Philippines of whom are indigenous EATHER PDATE through its subsidiary, TVI Subanen tribe.” AS of 2:00 p.m. yesterday, the Low Pressure Resource Development Balabag Pioneer team Area (LPA) was estimated based on satellite (Phils.,), Inc. (TVIRD), led by its Vice President and surface data at 130 km East of Puerto said Trinio. and Chief Operating OfPrincesa City (9.8°N, 120.0°N). Luzon will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers He added: “Its Balabag ficer Yulo E. Perez arrived and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over Palawan and Gold Project is currently in the area in April 2011 but the eastern section of Central and Southern Luzon which may conducting mining explora- small-scale miners belongtrigger flashfloods and landslides. Visayas and Western Mindanao tion seeking to develop an ing to the Monte de Oro will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms while the rest of Mindanao will be partly cloudy open pit mining in Balabag Small-Scales Association to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Hill in Bayog, a municipality (MOSSMA) allegedly opsource: pagasa with a population of over posed the entry of TVIRD
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For more details, contact Tel. No.: 309-5276 HERMILINO VILLALON Manager
kadto nila,” Obsioma said. But DENR’s Undersecretary for Operations Ernesto Adobo said he has no knowledge of the case. “You can call and ask the Central Office,” Adobo said. Earlier, businessman Roger Edma disclosed the other week that former CENRO Ronald Gadot issued him CLOs from 20052010 and asked from him P6 per board feet as payment thereof. Edma even gave this paper two certified true copy of the documents. “Dako na kaayo nga kwarta ang nakuha ni Gadot gikan nako sulod sa unom ka tuig. Ambot lang ug iya bang gi-remit ang maong kwarta didto sa DENR,” Edma said. For his part, Gadot said he will face whatever case LOOK/PAGE 7
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Coal-fired 0plant in Zambo opposed By AL JACINTO Regional Editor-Zamboanga
ZAMBOANGA City––Despite the worsening power situation in Zamboanga City, many residents are still opposing the putting up of a coal-fired power plant, saying its effect on human health and the environment would be a disaster. “No. We will oppose the coal-fired power plant because it is dirty and poses grave danger to our health OPPOSED/PAGE 7
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