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BY JOHN HEREDIA
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ROXAS City – Organizations against mining in Capiz held a caravan and burned an effigy to mark the International Human Rights Day.
More than 3,000 people participated, boarding 12 trucks and jeepneys, private cars and motorcycles, organizers claimed.
They criticized the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members who favored the lifting of the 50-year mining freeze in the province.
Jeffrey Layo, Eleoper Martinez, Karen Palomar, Camilo Robles, Roberto Ignacio, Eduardo Magallanes, Blesilda Almalbis, Ricky Martin, and Lilia Demalata voted in May to pass an ordinance effecting the lifting.
Their presiding officer was Vice Gov. Esteban Evan Contreras.
The caravan started around 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 in Barangay Lanot, passing by major streets toward the bandstand fronting city hall, where a program was held at 2 p.m.
Groups including the Capiz Environmental Protection Alliance accused the nine Board members of accepting bribes and conniving with Teresa Marble, Inc., the company that lobbied for the lifting of the mining freeze.
They also set a 10-foot crocodile effigy with pictures of the nine Board members on fire.
Earlier Gov. Antonio del Rosario wrote all mayors, saying he was against the lifting of the mining moratorium.
He urged all local governments to pass ordinances imposing a 50-year mining moratorium in their respective jurisdictions.
Former Interior secretary Mar Roxas, a native of Capiz, also expressed opposition to mining.
“Only a few benefit from mining, but many suffer from its effects,” Roxas said in a radio interview.
But while he believed mining will harm the livelihood of Capisnons, who rely on agriculture and fishery, Roxas said he “respects” the decision of the Provincial Board./PN
(region kagawad caption)
A police officer inventories the items seized from Mark Bialen, a kagawad in Barangay Bago Chiquito, Panay, Capiz, while the “high-value” drug suspect looks on. JOHN HEREDIA/PN
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