Brooke’s Point urges DENR to issue cease and desist order vs mining firm

MANILA, Philippines — The local government unit (LGU) and residents of Brooke’s Point in Palawan urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday to issue a cease and desist order against Ipilan Nickel Corporation (INC).

The residents of Brooke’s Point had set up a human barricade to protest the alleged illegal mining activities of the INC.

READ: Residents set up anti-mining barricade in Palawan 

According to Alyansa Tigil Mina’s (ATM) statement, the INC has been operating without a Mayor’s Permit and a Certificate Precondition.

Brooke’s Point municipal mayor Cesareo Benedito Jr., said that the INC has been “blatantly disrespecting the law by ignoring the order of the Office of the Mayor to stop operations.”

Further backing him is Brooke’s Point Vice Mayor Jean Feliciano, who agrees and believes that DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga must ultimately cancel the INC’s Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA)

“I support the call of the people of Brooke’s Point. The only action that can prevent the destruction of the environment and the suffering or the people is for DENR Sec. Loyzaga to ultimately cancel INC’s MPSA. Definitely, the preservation of our natural forests and the protection of our watersheds cannot be compromised,” the vice mayor said.

In addition to the LGU, Indigenous Peoples (IP) leader Nelson Sombra stated that the mining company is also violating Indigenous Peoples Rights because it has not obtained a Certificate Precondition from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

“Patuloy ang operasyon ng pagmimina kahit walang pahintulot ng mga katutubo. Ang totoo, di sila nagbibigay ng konsiderasyon sa palagay at kalooban ng mga IPs,” Sombra said.

(It operates without the required consent of indigenous groups. Clearly, it gives no consideration to the sentiments and will of the IPs.)

National Coordinator Jaybee Garganera of ATM said that their organization fully supports the call for the cease and desist order.

Garganera also added that the “DENR should likewise heed the people’s demands and act accordingly. A cease and desist order is the immediate action for the DENR to take.” – With reports from Meralyn Melitante, INQUIRER.net trainee

JPV