ATM Statement on Court Decision Re Marcopper Case

Press Statement | Alyansa Tigil Mina | May 24, 2022

Alyansa Tigil Mina gladly welcomes the landmark decision of a local court in Marinduque in favor of 30 plaintiffs against the Marcopper Mining Corporation for a mine spill that devastated the community in 1993.

It may have taken decades for the court to make a ruling, but we are nevertheless hopeful considering that justice is finally served to the victims of one of the worst mining disasters in the country. The decision sends an encouraging signal to communities gravely affected by mining.

We congratulate the Marinduquenos and their commitment to seek justice. Congratulations are also in order to the lawyers and organizations who never wavered in the pursuit of justice, especially to Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC). They have guided and stood by all the plaintiffs no matter what challenge faced.

The ruling also underscores the importance of a new mining law that would put the environment and mining-affected communities above the interests of the mining industry. At present, the mining laws in the country fall short in preventing destructive mining. A new law must be put in place to ensure mining disasters won't happen again. #RepealMiningAct #ResponsibleMiningIsFakeNews #BanOpenPitMining

Photo used by : The Manila Times

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