Mining company, DENR,
LGU MacArthur, local NGO ink MOA to ensure environmental protection
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
October
16, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – An
environmental guarantee fund mechanism was signed between the NICUA
Corporation, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Environment Management
Bureau, Local Government Unit of MacArthur, Leyte, and a
Non-Government Organization particularly the Senior Citizen’s
Association, on October 14, 2010 at Barangay San Pedro, MacArthur,
Leyte.
A report from MGB
Regional Information Officer Dante Operio stated that said guarantee
fund known collectively as the Contingent Liability and Rehabilitation
Fund (CLRF), aims to “ensure the just and timely compensation for
damages and the progressive and sustainable rehabilitation of any
adverse effects” that NICUA may cause in its mining explorations and
subsequent commercial production in MacArthur, Leyte.
CLRF shall be in the
form of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) and Mine Waste and Tailings
Fees (MWTF) which will then be deposited as Trust Funds in a
Government depository bank to be used for the physical rehabilitation
of areas and communities affected by NICUA’s mining operations and for
research on the technical and preventive aspects of rehabilitation,
MGB 8 says.
The MRF shall be in
two forms namely, the Monitoring Trust Fund (MTF) and the
Rehabilitation Cash Fund (RCF).
The MTF shall be in
cash in an amount of not less than one hundred fifty thousand pesos to
cover maintenance and other operating budget for the transportation
and travel expenses, cost of laboratory analysis, supplies and
materials, communication services, consultancy work, and other
reasonable expenses incurred by the monitoring team.
On the other hand, the
RCF will be equivalent to 10% of the total amount needed to implement
the life-of-mine Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP)
or P5 million, whichever is lower.
“There are differences
between large-scale and small-scale mining operations,” MGB-08
Regional Director Roger A. de Dios said. “Large-scale mining
operations are heavily capitalized, using state-of-the-art technology
that minimizes environmental costs.”
Furthermore, he added
that “these (large-scale mining) are expertly regulated under the
strict provisions of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 by the Mines
and Geosciences Bureau and are required to post trust funds to cover
the ecological repair in the aftermath of such mining operations.
On the other hand,
small-scale mining can be likened to that of kaingin. With limited
capital, small-scale mining and quarrying operations scratch the
earth, cut trees, and open up the land polluting our waterways.
“Very little revenue
flows to the national government – which, in the end, will be tasked
with \repairing the damage done to the environment,” Director de Dios
added.
The signatories for
the said Contingent Liability and Rehabilitation Fund MOA were Alex R.
de Leoz, NICUA Executive Vice President; Roger A. de Dios, MGB-08
Regional Director; Primitivo C. Galinto Jr., DENR-08 Regional
Executive Director; Letecia R. Maceda, EMB-08 Regional Director; Hon.
Rene R. Leria, Municipal Mayor of MacArthur, Leyte; and Andres C. Ruba,
Sr., President of Palale Unit Senior Citizens Association of
Macarthur, Leyte representing the people’s Organization.
The members of the
Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) will then be designated by this
Committee to monitor compliance of NICUA Corporation on its
environmental protection program. (with report
from MGB 8)
Labor union leader
released from jail
Press Release
By KATUNGOD-SB-KARAPATAN
October 16, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – Last
October 13, 2010, by order of the Regional Trial Court Branch 8, Tacloban City, labor union leader and Anakpawis Partylist Nominee
Vincent “Bebot” Borja was released from the Tacloban City Jail.
It can be remembered
that Borja was arrested last May 7, 2007 in Ormoc City by the elements
of the 19th Infantry Battalion led by then Battalion Commander Col.
Lope Dagoy using the warrant of arrest of a certain “Tata Borja”. He
was subsequently detained at Ormoc City Jail and was later on
transferred to Tacloban City Jail and was made to face a murder
charge.
During the last
hearing, witnesses appeared and testified in open court that Bebot
Borja is not Tata Borja, the principal accused in the case. In that
juncture, the court has no recourse but to release Bebot Borja.
The arrest of Borja
and the rest of the political prisoners in the Region and in the
country is the result of the implementation of the Oplan Bantay Laya
II wherein its legal component includes making and filing trumped up
cases against leaders and members of the progressive organizations and
partylists.
As of the today, the
region has a total of 15 political prisoners, six of them were
females.
The release of Vincent
“Bebot” Borja only goes to show that these trumped up cases will
eventually be dismissed. The implementers of OBL II and the succeeding
counter-insurgency programs of the State can never silence the people
in its struggle for human rights, genuine land reform and national
industrialization.
Onwards with the
struggle!
Free all political
prisoners!
Reference:
Kathrina
R. Castillo, KATUNGOD-SB-KARAPATAN
8ID intercepts
splintered NPA members
By CMO Battalion, 8ID PA
October
15, 2010
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan, Samar – Terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) in the island
of Samar suffer another major setback following the sustained
successful feats of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division few days ago in
the tri- boundary of
Samar provinces.
Report reaching this
headquarters from 20th Infantry Battalion states that a civilian
provided information that some armed terrorists whom they believe to
be part of the main enemy group engaged by the government forces in a
series encounters recently were seen loitering in the periphery of Brgy Macatingog, Calbayog City attempting to source out support from
the local folks.
Acting on the said
report, the 20IB immediately organized and sent troops led by 1st
Lieutenant Julius Muyco to check the enemy presence in the area. While
traversing the route towards the barrio, troops encountered about
seven (7) members of the armed terrorist NPA who immediately fled away
after almost few minutes of exchange fires. An M16 rifle was recovered
by the troops after the wounded rebels hurriedly escaped from the
encounter site. No one was hurt in the government side while it could
not be ascertained in the NPA side.
Meanwhile, Major
General Mario Chan, Commander of the 8ID commended his troops for
their heroic deeds. He also appreciated the action of the civilian who
provided the timely information on the activities of the CTs in their
barangay.
“The NPAs has no way
to run. They can no longer hide and seek refuge with the masses they
believed to be theirs. As I commend my troops for their successful
deed of their mission, I would also like to recognize the support of
the local folks for without it, our mission would not be carried out
successfully”, says Major General Chan.
He also calls on
the people in the province to report any person, wounded or not, that
are seen in their barrio since the 8ID is openly willing to provide
assistance even to enemy. “We once again solicit support to our people
to report to us any wounded person that you believe to be engaged by
our troops in a series of encounters. We are willing to help them
provide the necessary medical assistance and treatment and I assure
them that they will never be harmed”, the good general concludes.
NPA’s pathetic move,
“tell a lie”
By CMO Battalion, 8ID PA
October
15, 2010
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan, Samar – The terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) has no way
to run but to tell lies after the successive successful feat of the
Army’s 8th Infantry Division against them for the past few days
particularly in the tri-boundary areas of the of Samar provinces.
It can be recalled
that assorted high powered firearms, war materiel, explosive
materials, medical supplies & equipment, communications equipment,
subversive documents and other high valued equipment and personal
belongings were recovered following the capture of various NPA’s huge
encampments and safe houses that resulted to the major lost in their
underground movement.
As expected, the
terrorist NPA resorted to their hopeless move of bringing front lies
and propaganda in order to project their false strength to the people
and pretend to be winning their barbaric cause.
In the recent
statement made by Karlos Manuel of the Efren Martires Terrorist Group
[
The people support the continuing struggle of
the NPA ],
he accused 8ID particularly pointing fingers to the troops of 34th
Infantry Battalion to be human rights violators citing the long used
worn out issues that are kept recycled which they usually use every
time they encounter major setbacks.
It seems that Manuel’s
propaganda line which includes the destruction of crops, abuses and
looting are all usual lies of the NPAs considering the fact that the
mentioned areas where he alleged to be disturbed by the troops are
excluded in the areas where troops were deployed. Also Manuel’s
statement is indicative of his lack of knowledge of what is really
happening in the ground considering his statements are far from
reality. It is a proof that indeed 8ID has already dislodged them from
their former strongholds, heavily disrupted their command, control and
communications and usual supply lines in the area.
In the onset, the
people no longer believe in their usual lies as manifested by the
location of captured enemy encampments and with the frequent
information support of the people that resulted to major engagements.
If it is true that the support of the people is still at their end,
how come that most of the captured enemy encampments are located in
some isolated places very far away from the people? This fact only
denotes that the masses are now alienating themselves from the
underground movement and the terrorist are no longer accepted and
welcomed in the barangays.
This was confirmed by
Roberto Gacuma alias Huling, the former Secretary of NEF, ESPPC, EVRPC
who served 29 years in the underground movement before his integration
to the mainstream society that the NPA’s had undergone various reforms
in order to regain their losing ground and control of their previously
controlled mass bases.
He also revealed that
they could no longer contain the losing grip of the people to their
movement because the propaganda that they were using before are no
longer true and applicable at present.
He also said that the
use of propaganda lines such as military abuses, destruction of crops,
inhumane acts towards civilian, torture, violations of human rights
and the like are the NPA’s last resort since they have nothing more to
say to counter the consistent successes of the government forces and
dictate or refocus the military’s attention away from intensified
combat operations.
Meanwhile, Major
General Mario Chan, 8ID’s commander said that the 8ID remains focused
on their mandated task of protecting the people and the state and
assured that their rights are protected at all times.
He further stated that
the gaining tempo of his command favouring the people’s interest will
be sustained despite of the relentless propaganda effort of the enemy
to discredit the legitimate operations.
“We believe that our
people know the truth behind these enemy propaganda and they are
intelligent enough to recognize issues to believe in. While the enemy
keeps on throwing dirty mud against our end and false accusations to
be hated by the people we are serving, we will continue to perform
things that we ought to do and assured that our people will be
peacefully sleeping at night against the NPA,” vows General Chan.
“In so doing, we
would like to give account of our successes to the reports and tips of
our people that had contributed a lot to our efforts of addressing
these threat groups that continuously disrupt the attainment peace and
development in this part of the country.”, General Chan concludes.
Outgoing DPWH chief
leaves with flying colors in Eastern Visayas
By RODRIGO S. VICTORIA
October
15, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – “It
is hard to maintain being number one” said the chief of the Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Eastern Visayas in his
relinquishment speech made during the turn-over ceremony of new
leadership of the office held today at the DPWH Multi-Purpose Hall,
Candahug, Palo Leyte.
Regional Director
Angelito M. Twaño who served DPWH 8 for two years, stressed that DPWH
8 ranked number 1 in terms of performance based on their central
office’s report as of July this year.
Director Twaño
informed that DPWH 8 was in number 13 spot in terms of performance
among the DPWH regional offices nationwide before he was assigned as
regional director here in the region.
Twaño who admitted he
was hesitant to accept the post here in DPWH 8 because of the distance
from his home place, which is in Pampanga, sald that DPWH offices have
no good working conditions and bonding of employees was absent.
“I started retooling
DPWH 8” Twaño said thus making the regional office a good place to
work and for employees to become productive in their respective scope
of work.
Twaño who will leave
DPWH 8 for a new assignment at the Bureau of Maintenance in Manila
proudly reported that the quality control section of the regional
office is the best among the DPWH regional offices in the country.
Several vital offices
under DPWH 8 were also rehabilitated to make the working environment
of the employees more conducive and to make it appear more presentable
to the public.
In the aspect of human
resource development, Director Twaño made promotions to key positions
at the regional office and other district offices in the region that
helped boost the morale and productivity of employees in DPWH 8.
It was learned that
under Twano’s leadership, Eastern Visayas region got substantial
infrastructure projects that helped boost its economy and tourism
industry. (PIA 8)
Peasants to launch
marathon protest-march against ‘Peasants’ Enemy No. 1’
“Military, police sabotage will not stop us!”
Press Release
By KASAMA-TK
October 14, 2010
Peasant groups
announced today that efforts of foil-up from the Armed Forces of the
Philippines and Philippine National Police will not stop their
weeklong protest march against the Aquino’s Haciendero Republic.
Dubbed as the
“Lakbayan ng mga Magsasaka Laban sa Hacienderong Rehimen ni Aquino!”,
peasants and other sectors from Southern Tagalog led by KASAMA-TK and
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Tagalog will march from their
provinces on October 18 until they reach Mendiola bridge on October
21.
The groups slam Noynoy
Aquino’s administration for its apparent incompetence to address the
root problem of land reform in the country. They named Aquino as
“Peasants’ Enemy No. 1” for continuing Arroyo’s bloody military rule
in the countryside with the extension of Oplan Bantay Laya.
Axel Pinpin, Secretary
General of KASAMA-TK said that Aquino has deliberately made no mention
about the issue of genuine land reform three times already: from his
inauguration, State of the Nation Address and first 100-days speech.
Instead, within 100-days of Aquino’s rule, the people only heard empty
words on wang-wang, hotdog and condoms. Now even his blossoming
love-life seems more important than the poor he ought to serve. Pinpin
stressed that the peasants will no longer expect anything fruitful
from this regime.
“At this point in
time, we anticipate no one else but the military and police to stop us
from airing our protests. This may be in form of blockades and added
checkpoints around the region or any way that can harass the people
who are to participate in the Lakabayan. But we warn them that they
will not be successful, nothing can stop our rage against this
regime’s ignorance to the peasants’ plight,” Pinpin stressed noting
reasons such as the election gun ban that may serve as plots to
trumped-up more charges and prevent the protesters from reaching
Manila.
On October 5, three
days before Aquino’s 100 days, three peasant organizers dubbed as the
“Lumban 3” which includes Darwin Liwag, vice-chairperson of KASAMA-TK
were arrested at a checkpoint in Lumban, Laguna by military elements.
The three are still detained today and are charged for illegal
possession of firearms and explosives and for allegedly being members
of the New People’s Army.
Pinpin, as a former
political detainee himself from the ‘Tagaytay 5’, recalls a similar
instance in the past. On April 28, 2006 military men illegally
arrested and charged them with similar accounts three days before the
May 1, Labor Day protest. They were later on presented to the public
as a group set to “overthrow Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and destabilize
the government.”
“We demand the
immediate release of our fellow peasants including all political
detainees in the country. Aquino’s amnesty to Antonio Trillanes and
300 other rebel soldiers only reveals his character of petting the
military to ensure that his state power is intact,” Pinpin said. He
added that Aquino may be fearful of any coup de-tat that may occur
since his mother’s governance was wrapped with numerous cases of
military rebellion.
Meanwhile, Andrianne
Mark Ng, BAYAN-ST spokesperson, stated that the new regime just like
Arroyo’s tactics employ state violence to quell the people’s dissent
in the region. Within 100 days of the Aquino governance, 5 out of the
9 extrajudicial killings in the country came from the Rizal province.
In Batangas, the continuous presence of the CAFGU and recruitment to
minors led to a brutal beat-up of a 17-year-old boy who lost his
sanity in the incident.
“With the extension of
Oplan Bantay Laya until 2011 and the Supreme Court’s reaffirmation of
the Anti-Terror Law of 2007, the peasants and people who remain as
critics to the government risk once again to become the next victims
of human rights violations,” Ng stressed.
“We have seen how the
president of Chile responded on saving the lives of Chilean miners who
were trapped underground for two months. Here in our country, the
president himself buries the peasants to their graves with the
continued implementation of bogus laws and policies such as
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reforms, and
the Stock Distribution Option,” Ng added.
He also commented that
from Aquino’s main promise of erasing corruption nothing has happened.
Jueteng is still rampant and accountable individuals such as Rico Puno
go unpunished. Meanwhile, Gloria Arroyo remains scot free from her
crimes of corruptions to the people. “Just yesterday Arroyo testified
for the NBN-ZTE scandal, how can that happen when she remains the
primary culprit of the corruption case?” Ng said.
The groups vow to
expose the true color of the Aquino regime and oppose the anti-people
policies that will only worsen the people’s poverty. “It is clear that
the people are not his boss, only those who serve as cohorts to his
Haciendero Republic,” Pinpin stressed.
Calls for 50% Renewable Energy commitment by 2020
Greenpeace delivers
solar panels to Malacañang
By GREENPEACE
October
14, 2010
MALACAÑANG COMPOUND,
Manila – Greenpeace volunteers and members of Solar Generation Pilipinas Youth today delivered solar panels to Malacañang Palace as
part of a call to President Benigno Aquino III to lead the Philippines
on the road to an Energy Revolution. The group is supporting the
President’s vision to become the ‘Renewable Energy (RE) Champion of
Southeast Asia’ and is proposing a roadmap to increase the
Philippines’ use of RE to 50% by 2020. This uptake of RE will be
coupled with the phase out of unsustainable sources of energy,
particularly climate change-causing coal power, to propel the
Philippines toward a green development pathway.
As part of the
activity, Greenpeace activists decorated Malacañang with pinwheels
signed by thousands of Filipinos urging “P.Noy” to lead the global
Energy Revolution. They displayed banners calling for an “Energy [R]evolution
Now!” and for “50% Renewable Energy by 2020.”
“We want President
Aquino to enjoy firsthand the benefits of renewable energy. Imagine
if we had delivered a dirty coal plant here – or much worse, a
dangerous nuclear plant – we doubt that he would relish living beside
it. Filipinos want what PNoy wants -- good, clean, dependable
energy. PNoy knows renewables can provide that. The Energy
Revolution Roadmap that shows how our country can achieve this and
more,” said Amalie Obusan, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate & Energy
Campaigner.
“This is also a
reminder to P.Noy that people are rallying behind him on this. Pinoys
want to see a concrete plan of action toward making the dream of a
carbon-free development future for the country a reality. The Filipino
people could be leading the rest of the world in an Energy
Revolution,” she added.
The Philippines has
enacted a landmark Renewable Energy Law last 2008 which has spurred
many RE projects throughout the country. But a lot more needs to be
done. The RE Law’s vision to steer the country toward a secure and
sustainable energy future, while helping mitigate climate change, must
be reflected in the Philippine Energy Plan. This entails a
corresponding decrease and phase out of fossil fuel use, particularly
coal power which is the single greatest contributor to climate
change.
“We are also asking
PNoy to come aboard the Greenpeace flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, when
she visits Manila this November, to sign on to the Energy Revolution
roadmap. Time is running out. While world leaders wait on each other
to be the first to commit, people in places that are most vulnerable
and least prepared to deal with climate change – like the Philippines
– are regularly suffering from the impacts. If the Philippines makes
the first commitment to specific targets, this will send a very strong
message to other heads of states that they should already be
committing substantial targets. Our country could be leading
Developing Asia and the rest of the world toward a clean development
path and a carbon-free future. PNoy should show the world what true
leadership and people power are really like!” Obusan concluded.
The people support the
continuing struggle of the NPA; 8th ID is on the run because it is
despised by the people
Press Release
Efren Martires Command
New People's Army-Eastern Visayas
October 12, 2010
The Efren Martires
Command today scorned 8th Infantry Division chief Gen. Mario Chan as
talking bull for calling on the New People's Army to surrender [
8ID chief Chan calls NPAs in Samar to lay down their arms ], while
it is in fact government troops that are on the run because they are
not welcomed by the people. "After more than 30 years of fighting, the NPA remains unperturbed by the Aquino government's renewed offensives
because of the people's continuing support," said Ka Karlos Manuel,
EMC spokesperson. "The 8th ID is only wearing itself out in its
much-ballyhooed relentless and massive operations. It is the 8th ID
that is on the run, not the NPA, because the NPA is welcomed and
sheltered by the people, who on the other hand reject government
troops as thieves and ruthless killers."
Manuel also pointed
out the 8th ID is committing violence against the people because it is
not winning against the NPA. "No one wins a war by forcing it on the
people. But the 8th ID blames and attacks the people because of the
NPA's perseverance and growing strength. It is has also been brought
to the attention of the NPA that while the military pretends to
observe human rights, it is in fact forcing the victims to absolve
them of any wrongdoing, or else go incognito so they wouldn't be
identified." Manuel cited recent examples of human rights abuses by
the 8th ID:
1. September 20. In
Brgy. Casapa, Jiabong, soldiers from the 34th IB looking for the NPA
harassed and threatened to execute 30-year-old Rosalie Gagbo and her
three children aged one to four years old. Gagbo, wife of a barangay
councilor, was also beaten with a stick on the neck and forced to sign
a document stating she was not abused by the soldiers. The soldiers
also stole two chickens and a bolo. They also came back after a week
and forced Gagbo's seven-year-old son to sign a document attesting his
mother was not abused.
2. In the space of a
week beginning September 20, more than 20 soldiers from the 34th IB
operating against the NPA swindled Irene and Serafin Pacios, Jr., who
ran a store in Brgy. Bunga, Motiong. The soldiers consumed on credit
nearly P4000 worth of rice, soft drinks, biscuits, canned sardines,
cigarettes, and Colt 45 beer. But they left after paying less than
half of what they consumed and still owe at least P2200. The Pacios
couple could not run after the soldiers because they had no nameplates
and did not identify themselves or their commanding officer. In an
earlier military operation, store owner Wenceslao Jomagdao was also
swindled in the same way by soldiers and has not been indemnified to
date.
3. The same troops in
Brgy. Bunga also stole the papaya and sugarcane harvests of Arcenia
and Jose Labong, while also trampling their rice harvests. A sack of
cassava and a chicken owned by Gabriel and Remedios Pacleta were also
stolen.
4. In Matuguinao,
helicopters ferrying troops and supplies have been indiscriminately
landing on and ruining rice fields; the farmers have all been eagerly
expecting their first good harvest since the intense and prolonged dry
spell of the previous months. In the interior barangays of San Jose de
Buan, columns of the 34th IB on scouting missions have been trampling
over and destroying the precious crops and livelihood of the poor
peasants.
Manuel urged other
victims of human rights violations to press for justice and
indemnification against the 8th ID's abuses. "Other human rights
violations are believed to have been perpetrated in massive military
operations carried out in Catbalogan, San Jorge, Gandara and Paranas
in Western Samar, as well as in Northern Samar. These abuses show that
while the military is claiming gains over the NPA, it is the people
who have been hardest hit. The NPA vows to make the 8th ID pay dearly
for the sufferings of the people. The 8th ID will surely be on the run
because of its isolation from the people and abuses. The Aquino regime
will also certainly be shaken by the people's resistance to its
dastardly, US-backed "counter-insurgency" campaign."
Broadcasting student
of USJR wins Ms. Anyag 2010
By GINA DEAN-RAGUDO,
Samar News.com
October
14, 2010
CALBAYOG CITY, Samar
– A 19-yr old 3rd year Mass Communication major in broadcasting
student of San Jose Recoletos University, Cebu City has won Calbayog’s
Ms. Anyag 2010 on October 13 held at Calbayog’s Sports Center.
