Bastes panel to submit final report tomorrow

The fact-finding mission created by President Arroyo to probe mine spills in an Albay mining project is set to submit its final report to Malacañang tomorrow.

This, as Albay Vice Gov. James Calisin, in a statement, threatened to sue the panel for economic sabotage should its findings turn out to have no scientific basis and result in another fish scare hoax.

Although the Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission was mandated to probe only the effects of the mine spills on the locals’ health and the environment, Charles Avila, its vice chairman and spokesman, said they would issue "unpalatable but quite realistic" recommendations to the government and the mining industry.

"The report will contain findings and recommendations that might have far-reaching consequences on the future of the mining industry in the Philippines," he said without elaborating.

"The government and the mining industry may find (our) recommendations unpalatable, but quite realistic," he added.

Avila said the report of the commission headed by Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes will not be confined to the health and environmental impacts of the mine spills but will also tackle the factors that led to them.

He said their report would also discuss the government’s lapses in monitoring the operations of Lafayette’s P1.4-billion polymetallic project in Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

Avila said they based their report on the findings of the UP-Natural Sciences Research Institute, UP-Philippine General Hospital, Department of Health, Ateneo de Manila University-Environmental Science Department, Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research of Ateneo de Naga, and the Center for Environmental Concerns.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources suspended Lafayette’s operations following the mine spills last Oct. 11 and 13.

Calisin, however, said the commission appears to have anti-mining members "whose personal advocacy is directly opposed to our region’s growth."

"The anti-mining group does not want mining which will create jobs and new businesses; they do not want the poor to prosper because they will run of recruits. This is a deadly combination and they are in government," he said.

"I am sure there will be sufficient grounds to file case (of economic sabotage) and this will become a class suit joined by fisherfolk from Albay and Sorsogon that will serve as a lesson to all people to be responsible in their beliefs. They must realize that their right to express their opinion ends when they cause undue injury to others," he added.

Albay, according to Calisin, welcomes Lafayette’s Rapu-Rapu project as its biggest investor so far, as long as it conducts responsible mining.