Halt to order vs illegal mining hit

MONKAYO, Compostela Valley — Legitimate small-scale miners at Mt. Diwalwal have expressed dismay over the move halting the implementation of an order of this town’s mayor against illegal mining in the gold-rush site.

In a statement, Melchor Plaza, chairman of the Balite Integrated Small-Scale Mining Cooperative, said Davao City Rodrigo Duterte "overstepped his mandate" as head of the Southern Mindanao Regional Peace and Order Council when he stopped the cease-and-desist order of Mayor Jose Brillantes from being enforced.

"How can Mayor Duterte allow the illegal miners to resume operations? Is he now above the law?" Plaza asked.

He said Duterte should understand that the Court of Appeals has upheld Brillantes’ directive when the 60-day temporary restraining order against it lapsed with no permanent injunction being issued.

According to Plaza, President Arroyo herself instructed Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez in a meeting in General Santos City last July 2 to implement the law at Mt. Diwalwal.

In the same meeting, Mrs. Arroyo, he said, gave her full support for Brillantes’ order.