The House of Representatives will investigate the ambush of a Subanen tribe chieftain which led to the death of his 11-year-old son and the series of violent incidents in a gold-rich mining area allegedly being exploited by illegal mining groups and syndicates in Balabag, Zamboanga del Sur.
\nAt the same time, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, chair of the House committee on ecology, vowed to conduct a joint investigation with the House committee on public order of illegal mining groups believed to have abused and destroyed the forest reserves and the environment in the area.
\nFernandez said the most vicious form of violence perpetrated by these illegal mining groups is the indiscriminate destruction of the natural resources in the area.
\n\u2018\u2018If the killings and violence perpetrated by private armed groups unleashed by illegal gold mining operators in Balabag, Zamboanga del Sur, are condemnable, the loss of natural resources for future generations of indigenous peoples and the community in the area is equally condemnable too,\u201d Fernandez said.
\nFernandez issued the press statement in support of House Resolution No. 2792 which was filed at the House of Representatives in response to the ambush on Sept. 14 of Subanen chief Datu Timuay Manda, a second term barangay chairman of Barangay Conacon, by several armed men. Manda\u2019s 11-year old son died in the attack.
\nManda, a Subanen chieftain, is at the forefront of a campaign against illegal mining and illegal logging, in Zamboanga del Sur.
\n\u201cWe condemn illegal mining and the violence it continues to unleash in Balabag,\u201d Fernandez said.<\/p>\n
Responsible mining
\n\u201cWith the issuance of Executive Order No. 79 by President Aquino to rationalize, develop and promote responsible and sustainable mining in the country, we will now be able to effectively crack down on illegal miners and syndicates who have caused not only harm to the lives of our people but have been causing large-scale, irreparable destruction to our environment and huge economic losses due to rampant smuggling of the illegal gold they produce,\u201d Fernandez said.
\nThe resolution, authored by Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones, underscored the need for Congress \u201cto identify legislative options to safeguard the safety of committed environmentalist\u201d as well as crackdown on illegal mining and illegal logging activities in the area and to bring perpetrators to justice.
\n\u201cHis avowed anti-illegal mining and anti-illegal logging advocacies have incurred the ire of perpetrators of these illegal activities who are well-organized, well-funded and well-armed,\u201d the resolution read.
\nMaguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, an opposition stalwart, said he would coauthor the resolution, saying that a House inquiry is imperative because the violence is merely an offshoot of blatant disregard and uncontrolled illegal gold mining in the area by illegal mining groups.<\/p>\n