during the negotiations, between the picketers and representatives of the mining : company, when several witnesses saw Kingo with a gun. The perpetrator fled from the crime scene with the help of security guards employed by the mining firm. The following day, Town Councilor Armin R. Marin he turned himself in at the PEOPLE’S provincial office of the Philippine National Police. Another suspect, Lea Ladica, was released by the police. According to eyewitnesses, Ladica, the information officer RESISTANCE TO of SNPDC, was also armed during the picket. (Analysis showed that two shots were fired from the.38 caliber used by Kingo. Witnesses however say PLUNDER ENDS that they heard three gunshots.) Marin had been a staunch anti-mining advocate even The struggle before he was elected councilor. against the pillage He was a member of Sibuyan Aton Manggad (SAM), which is IN DEATH of Sibuyan Island now the Sibuyan Island Sentinels League for the n By continues, despite Environment (Sibuyan ISLE) the aggressive Inc., and the Sibuyanons Against T STARTED as a peaceful picket of anti-mining Mining movement, an affiliate advocates in Sitio Olango, Brgy. España, San promotion of of the national anti-mining Fernando, Sibuyan Island. But by mid-morning mining by the alliance Alyansa Tigil Mina of October 3, 2007, an environmentalist town (ATM). He constantly opposed Arroyo mining operations and councilor was gunned down by an employee of applications in Sibuyan Island. ISibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corporation administration. His death is a big blow to the (SNPDC)...... environmental movement in

Martyred advocate Councilor Armin R. Marin, 42, was shot in the head by Mario Kingo in front of hundreds of anti-mining picketers at 10:30 AM. Marin died while he was being rushed to the hospital. He is the 23rd environmental activist to be killed under the Arroyo administration. The October 3 picket was in opposition to the mining activities being set by Filipinas Top Rock Mines and to the off- take agreement of BHP Billiton with SNPDC and Pelican Resources Ltd of Australia. The picketers were also protesting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which had approved the cutting of Environmentalists and anti-mining advocates protesting outside the DENR office, October 27, 2007. 69,709 trees in the area. It was Photo: ALYANSA TIGIL MUNA (ATM)

28 Human Rights FORUM Sibuyan. But it will not scare the operations like medium/large anti-mining advocates in the scale mining and large-scale island. In fact, his death has only logging. Local officials and strengthened the people’s President Arroyo should resolve to keep the island of consider the long-term effects of Sibuyan from the rapacity of their decisions on the large-scale mining firms. environment and livelihood of ‘We will not give up,” the people of Sibuyan.” vowed one of the anti-mining More anti-mining rallies leaders, Benhur Macato. were held in the island, including According to Macato, a retired the caravan on March 11, 2007, army major, “somebody had which was participated in by already shed blood. We must more than 2,000 advocates. On not fail Armin; he is a martyr June 9, 2007, some 3,000 people and hero.” gathered to oppose the iron Bishop Jose Corazon Talaoc mining operations of JKL of the Diocese of , in Brothers Mineral Ore Quarrying exhorting the people to stand Enterprises in Brgy. Mabini, San fast on their advocacy, said that Anti-mining activists protesting during BHP Billiton’s Annual General As- Fernando. JKL is operating in “The cry of the blood of our sembly in London, October 26, 2007. Photo: Sibuyan ISLE, Inc. partnership with Ore Asia brother (Armin) is calling us to permits issued to Philippine, based. The board of directors of Mining Development Corpo- pray fervently that no further Canadian and Australian large- the Chicago, USA based ration. Its area of operation death and injuries happen as we scale mining companies. Some Romblon Discussion List – extends over 3.36 hectares, for a continue the struggle for the 8,000 anti-mining advocates Cultural, Livelihood and period of two years. Environ- betterment of our people.” from Sibuyan’s three Educational Assistance for mentalists are particularly Marin’s death has not been municipalities (San Fernando, Romblon (RDL-CLEAR) recently incensed that while its permit is for naught. For one, the media Magdiwang and ), as voted to support SAM’s for small-scale mining, JKL has attention that resulted from the well as advocates from Romblon campaign to have local and been using heavy equipment in killing has brought national and and neighboring provinces, national officials declare a its mining operations in clear even international attention to marched to the mining sites in mining moratorium in the island. violation of the law. the anti-mining struggle in the said barangays to express RDL-CLEAR’s Honolulu- Sibuyan. At least two senators their opposition to the based president, Nic Musico, Nickel-rich island expressed concern over the destruction and pollution of who is an environmentalist and Sibuyan has an inferred killing. Sen. Loren Legarda has their small island. a human rights advocate, says nickel resource of 7.26 million expressed support for the Opposition to mining is not “Sibuyan is a very unique island tons. This sizable nickel reserve suspension of mining activities only confined among the because of its . It has naturally attracted a in Sibuyan, and Sen. Francis residents of Sibuyan, but also by should be protected from number of multinational Pangilinan condemned what he those who are already overseas- destructive commercial mining companies. called a “brazen and treacherous act.” The DENR, for its part, suspended the cutting of trees in the island. The special permit to cut trees was approved by then-Secretary Angelo Reyes on July 27, 2007, shortly before he was transferred to the Department of Energy. The DENR however said it cannot cancel the special cutting permit.

Popular opposition Mining in Sibuyan Island has always been opposed by the majority of its inhabitants. On September 2, 2006, an island-wide caravan rally was held to protest the start of the drilling and exploration activities in Brgys. Taclobo and España. The drilling/ exploration had been approved by the provincial government, June 9, 2007 protest in Sibuyan: “Sa mina sila ang yayaman. Kung wala nang miminahin, saan tayo pupulutin?” through small-scale mining Photo: Sibuyan ISLE, Inc.

Human Rights FORUM 29 ASIA’S GALAPAGOS

SIBUYAN is a crescent-shaped island of Romblon Province , . It has an area of 445 km². Primary forests cover 140 square kilometers, or 33% of the land area of Sibuyan. Known for its biodiversity, Sibuyan has been dubbed by local and international natural scientists as the Galapagos of Asia. Its significance to the world’s animal and plant diversity cannot be taken lightly. Exact figures on the number of August 7, 2007 protest in Sibuyan Photos: Sibuyan ISLE, Inc. plant species are hard to give, as Canadian Altai Resources biologists continue to stumble upon Google Earth ‘owns’ the site through its own species yet unidentified by the proclaimed as the world’s densest Altai-Philippines. The scientific community. In one study, forest. Scientists have yet to fully Australian Pelican Resources, the National Museum identified catalog the land-dwelling mammals, through its Sunshine Gold Pty. 1,551 trees in a single hectare, with reptiles, and rodents that can be Ltd., with Sun-Pacific Resources 123 species of trees. Of this number, found in the island. Sibuyan shelters and All-Acacia Resources (now 54 are found nowhere else in the several threatened and endangered SNPDC),1/ both through their world. Sibuyan’s forest has been species. local subsidiaries, were granted two Small-Scale Mining Permits Gutierrez and former Caloocan applied covers 1,339.9 hectares. effective for two (2) years. These congressman Edgar Erice) Mayor Ibarra Manzala mining operations are all in conducted site visits in Brgy. concurred with the resolution of Brgy. Taclobo, San Fernando. España. The community the Sangguniang Bayan of The permit for All-Acacia covers strongly registered their Magdiwang (led by Vice Mayor 200,000 square meters, while the opposition to the impending Denisa Repiso) rejecting Ibuna’s permit for Sun-Pacific covers mining operation. Some of those application. The four barangays 155,800 square meters. These who are actively opposed to affected likewise passed permits allow the companies to mining have already resolutions rejecting the project. extract 50,000 metric tons of Spikes spread on the roads by pro- experienced some forms of In Cajidiocan, during the nickel ore per year, or a total of mining supporters intended to harm harassment and strong-arm incumbency of Mayor Athena 200,000 metric tons for two the March 11 anti-mining march. tactics. For instance, the Malapitan, a resolution rejecting operations. These are, in effect, ostensibly held “to help clarify barangay treasurer of Brgy. the project was approved by the large-scale operations disguised the issue of mining.” However, España was unceremoniously Sangguniang Bayan under then- as small-scale mining. the forum was a blatant pitch for removed from his job. His wife, Vice Mayor Nicasio Ramos To date, there are three mining companies. also an anti-mining advocate, (currently sitting as mayor). approved small-scale mining During the forum, Mayor was fired from her job in the The struggle against the operations (with foreign Nanette Tansingco announced local day-care center. Another pillage of Sibuyan Island financiers), two pending that she will sign mining leader of the anti-mining continues, despite the aggressive mineral productions agreement business permits anytime, movement in the barangay is promotion of mining by the (MPSA) applications in four because the documents are unjustly facing charges of direct Arroyo administration. As long areas, one pending exploration already complete. Her words are assault. (Sibuyanons, however, as the residents and other permit (EP) application in the a complete turnaround from her are relieved that SR Metals has environmental advocates stay municipalities of Cajidiocan and July 4, 2007 assurance that she been recently ordered by the firm on their vision of a Sibuyan Magdiwang, and two pending “will never be pro-mining.” Court of Appeals to stop free from the clutches of large- mining pier construction Because the anti-mining operating in Tubay.) scale mining companies, so will projects in San Fernando. A total advocates were not given a On September 3, 2007, the Sibuyanons continue to have of 13 plotted mining areas all chance to present their another application for an island they call home. over the island are open for perspective, people walked out exploration was published. The ...... application. from the forum. applicant, Rommel Ibuna, wants *RODNE GALICHA is the On August 7, 2007, an Sibuyanons are particularly to explore nickel, iron, chromite coordinator of Sibuyan ISLE, Inc. organization called Forward concerned over the continued and other associated minerals Romblon (FOROM) and Rom- opening up of their island to in seven barangays of the ENDNOTE blon Chamber of Commerce and more mining operations. municipalities of Magdiwang Industry (RCCI) sponsored a Recently, SR Metals, Inc. and Cajidiocan in the province 1/ Identified as president of the forum in San Fernando. It was (owned by a certain Alberto of Romblon. The total area company is Jose Miguel Cabarrus. 30 Human Rights FORUM