© 2008 Sibuyan Island Sentinels League for Environment, Inc. (Sibuyan ISLE)

The employees of Sibuyan Properties Development Corporation (SNPDC), local partner of Pelican Resources, Ltd. (Australia) and mining giant BHP Billiton (United Kingdom/Australia) filed strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) that is grave coercion against the protestors during the October 3, 2007 tragic picket in Sibuyan Island, province of Romblon, Philippines.

The struggle of Sibuyanons created more tensions when subpoenas were issued on October 30, 2007, to picketers who joined the infamous October 13 protest. Kingo charged more than 85 advocates with grave coercion. Those who were charged include 12 teachers and witnesses to the killing of Councilor Armin Marin. His testimony was supported by affidavits executed by then-Barangay Captain Ludilyn Montojo (who was accused with perjury because she was not present during the picket), John Cleope and Yrel Cleope. In addition, Mario Kingo and Leah Ladica (SNPDC’s community relations officer) filed administrative charges against the teachers.

“The Parents, Teachers and Community Association (PTCA) requested help from us for their grievances to be heard for their children and our pupils and we saw it as our moral obligation. We practiced our civil and political rights. It is also our responsibility to protect the future of our pupils, our ultimate call as teachers is to lead them to a better future,” says Elma Galicha, principal of España Elementary School.

The Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC-KsK/FoE Phils.) considers the case filed against the advocates as example of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP). The term SLAPP originally came from the United States of America—a strategy employed by corporations to practically suppress the opposition and resistance of communities.

CBCP-NASSAChairman Bishop Broderick Pabillo, DD listens attentively to the parishioners of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Magdiwang, Romblon. The parish is particularly concerned also about the traditional gold mining in a village which has been used as leverage by the provincial government to permit large scale mining.

Bishop Pabillo with Barangay Mabini villagers. To the extreme right is Fr. Joey Valencia of the Parish of Our Lady of Remedies. The bishop personally talked to the villagers to know their sentiments. Siltation has been observed during the visit. The team noticed that the mining site is just above the village-the school, the chapel and houses.

The villagers in Brgy. España are in full force to welcome and talk to Bishop Pabillo and the team. They again reiterated their opposition to all mining applications and operations. The family of the late Councilor Marin had the chance to talk to the bishop.

Bishop Pabillo talks to the lay leaders of the Shrine Parish of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in San Fernando. He challenges them not to lose hope and be united to oppose the mining activities.

The present ecological situation of Barangay Mabini iron ore mining. This picture was taked during the first day of the visit while the Solidarity Misison Team  led by Bishop Pabillo are on a pumpboat to see the mining site offshore.

The iron ore mining in Barangay Mabini. A destruction in hiding just above the village. Notice the heavy equipment being used in the operation which violates the Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991.

March 9 - 10, 2008. Sibuyan Island, Romblon.

Through the Second Solidarity Mission led by the the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philipines (AMRSP) and its mission partners, Most Rev. Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-NASSA), visited Sibuyan Island to observe and know directly the sentiments of the people and explain the stand of CBCP on mining. He said that the bishops' stand is 'No to Mining'. He reiterated three reasons why such stand. First, the Mining Act of 1995 has so many flaws that it favors mainly the wealthy investors not the communities. Secondly, there is no technology to ensure responsible mining and that it leads to its irresponsibility. Lastly, sustainable and responsible mining is impossible for it permanently destroys and affects ecological balance and the culture of communities.

Bishop Pabillo visited all six parishes in Sibuyan Island. He visited Barangays Mabini and España where the provincial government allowed small-scale mining operations which are really geared toward large-scale applications. Siltation in Barangay Mabini has been observed and illegal exploration which has crossed the protected area has been documented during the visit in Barangay España.

In a mass held at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Bishop Pabillo stressed that the people must not lose hope. The Sibuyanons must not believe in the propaganda of the promoters of mining that there is no hope. He clarified that the church's stand has been consistent: No To Mining.

Colloqia were held at the parishes of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Magdiwang), Our Lady of Remedies (España, San Fernando) and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (San Fernando) and a mass at the Sta. Barbara Parish (Cajidiocan). The team dropped by the mountain-parish of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Lumbang, Cajidiocan) and Sto. Niño Parish (Danao, Cajidiocan).

Radio Veritas covered the whole event live. Bishop Pabillo direcly reported what he observed to Sec. Lito Atienza of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

March 12, 2008 Press Release

Inspired by the recent visit of Bishop Broderick Pabillo, D.D., chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA), the people of Sibuyan now clearly hold that the Church is with them.

As the visit of Bishop Pabillo with the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) and its Mission Partners (MP) created encouragement and inspiration to continue fighting for patrimony and integrity of creation, the mining companies led by the Filipinas Top Rock Mines and Realty Development Corporation continue to ruin the ice-age island.

More or less 100 workers of Filipinas Top Rock Mines went to the mountains of Barangay España in the municipality of San Fernando to commence the illegal mining exploration operations. Illegal because they have not secured any exploration permit and the barangay council was not consulted nor informed of their activity.

Just yesterday, a team led by the barangay council went to the exploration site together with Sibuyan ISLE and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) to document. They have discovered that the workers are generally residents of Quezon City, Zambales and Surigao, among others. They are required to dig at least 10 holes everyday with 100 meters gap. It shows also that tree cutting has commenced and the exploration encroached on the Protected Area (PA) as indicated by the concrete boundary markers of the PA.

Barangay España has been consistent in their opposition; however, the previous barangay council recommended mining despite the opposition of the people after three consultative assemblies. However, the present barangay council passed a resolution recalling all mining recommendations.

Martyred environmentalist councillor Armin Marin is from España. His vision is a mining-free Sibuyan Island. Justice will not be served to Armin if mining would continue.

Today, the Senate Committee on Justice will conduct a hearing on the murder of Councillor Marin.

Barangay España Kagawad Minerva Romero reads her statement in a recent CBCP Press Conference. With her are (L-R) Fr. Bryan Gore, MSSC, Most Rev. Sergio Utleg, DD of the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Most Rev. Deogracias Iñiguez of the Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs and Sr. Eden Orlino, SPC, Social Action Center (SAC) Directress of the Diocese of Bayombong.

Anti-Mining Solidarity String being unfolded. (L-R) Fr. Bryan Gore, MSC, Most Rev. Sergio Utleg, DD of the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Most Rev. Deogracias Iñiguez of the Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs, Kagawad Minerva Romero of Brgy. España (Diocese of Romblon), Sr. Eden Orlino, SPC with Most. Rev. Ramon Villena of the Diocese of Bayombong (Nueva Vizcaya).

Brgy. Mabini (San Fernando, Sibuyan Island, Romblon) iron ore small-scale mining was ordered to close and halt its operation. This was confirmed by Governor Natalio Beltran III saying that it violated the provisions of the Small Scale Mining Act of 1991 (RA 7076)when Sibuyan ISLE, Inc. had the chance to talk to him last Friday. A copy of the stoppage order according to him was sent to the local government of San Fernando.

Last week the heavy equipments, which is prohibited by RA 7076, were brought downhill to be dismantled. The iron ores are still stocked in the mining site.

However, there was no proper dissemination of the order of closure according to the villagers of Brgy. Mabini. The order of closure was not even posted on the gate of the mining site nor in a conspicuous area.

A reliable informant said that though JKL Brothers Mineral Ore Quarrying Enterprises owned by Mr. Herodion Molo in partnership with Ore Asia Mining Development Corporation violated provisions of the mining act, the governor ordered the stoppage because another mining company has been claiming the area.

Concerned citizens are glad to hear this good news.

Gov. Beltran says that whenever any operation violates the law, such should be reprimanded and the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) should be informed right away. Cooperation of the people are always needed, he adds.

Ret. Maj. Benhur Macato, local leader of Sibuyan ISLE, Inc., says that they are elated with the news, 'but who will take care of the rehabilitation? So much damage has been done as top soil on the hill had been stripped away and trees cut. We are still afraid when the rain comes, the elementary school is just below the mining site. Siltation is gradually observed little by little', he continues.

Gov. Beltran recently granted Filipinas Top Rock Mines and Realty Development Inc. through its board of directors small-scale mining permits covering contiguous areas in Barangay España (making their operation large scale). More than 40 1m x 1m holes were digged and barangay law enforcers said that the operations have already encroached the protected area.

'Their small-scale operations had crossed the boundaries of the proteced area. I know this because I was present and one of the people who planted the concrete boundaries', barangay councilor Remie Robiso said.

There are at least 26 mining applications circling the whole island, most of which encroach the protected area as seen in a map produced by scientific experts using maps and coordinates gatheres from Romblon PMRB, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Recently, Most Rev. Broderick Pabillo, DD, chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines - National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-NASSA), visited Sibuyan Island. He reiterated that the position of the Church is 'always no to mining'. He said that the island should be spared from mining and that all must uphold the integrity of creation.

'You have lived long before without mining until now. You must not lose hope for Christ gives us hope. Do not believe if they say there is no hope in your opposition. God is Hope.' he says.

Bishop Pabillo was accompanied by the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) and its mission partners, the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission (JPICC) and the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP). The team visited all the six parishes of Sibuyan Island including the mining sites of struggle.