Brooke’s Point envi defenders celebrate NCIP’s CDO and SC’s writ of kalikasan against mining compani
ATM Press Release | AUgust 21, 2023
Residents of Brooke’s Point came out of their homes Monday for a “celebratory motorcade” as they expressed victory over the issuance of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples of a Cease and Desist Order against Celestial Nickel Mining and Exploration Corporation and Ipilan Nickel Corporation and the Supreme Court’s issuance of a writ of kalikasan.
The anti-mining advocates went around town to celebrate the CDO and writ of kalikasan victory and to inform the community of these legal decisions. They hoped that the residents would feel assured and hopeful that mining operations would be stopped as they called on the NCIP to immediately enforce the CDO and ensure the mining companies completely cease its operations.
Brooke’s Point Councilor Vic Colili said: “The CDO prove what we have been saying all along – that the mining companies should not be allowed to operate because they have not secured the necessary Certificate Precondition and the Free Prior and Informed Consent of indigenous groups of Brooke’s Point. It is only correct and proper that a Mayor’s Permit was not issued to these mining companies since they have been illegally operating all this time.”
Meanwhile Vice Mayor Atty. Mary Jean D. Feliciano said she hoped that aside from the writ of kalikasan, the Supreme Court would later issue a Temporary Environment Protection Order (TEPO). “Karapatan natin na magkaroon ng maganda at maayos at balanseng kalikasan. At kung mayroong mga ahensya ng gobyerno o na magviolate ng kautusan maari tayong pumunta sa Supreme Court. Marami na po tayong reklamo sa DENR, sa MGB at marami na po tayong resolusyon sa Sangguniang Bayan ngunit hindi tayo pinakinggan.
Panglima Nelson Sombra, an IP leader, said: “Malaki ang epekto ng pagminina sa aming kultura bilang mga katutubo. Dati po masaya kami, may kaingin na binabayo, matipid at masustansiya. Maraming ani at hindi nagkukulang, pero ngayon may mga kakulangan na.”
Gil Valdestamon, an agricultural scientist, said that “without agriculture the country cannot be stable. Kami po mahigit na isang dekada na nakikipaglaban laban sa mina. Pero dininig na tayo… ang ating panalangin. Kaya patuloy nating protektahan ang kalikasan.”
Addressing the crowd that gathered at the Octagon Covered Court, community leader Job Lagrada said: “Ipakita natin na tayo ay sumusuporta sa Korte Suprema sa tamang decision na inilabas. Mahalaga na nagkakaisa tayo dahil iisa lang ang ating mundo na ginagalawan.”
Jaybee Garganera, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) National Coordinator, expressed solidarity to the anti-mining advocates in Brooke’s Point. “The issuance of the CDO and the writ of kalikasan are indeed a victory for the envi defenders in Brooke’s Point, who have stood their ground and strongly resisted the illegal mining operations. These are equally a validation of the strong and consistent stand of the local government of Brooke’s Point in ensuring the welfare of its constituents.”
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