Militant groups to ask Supreme Court to scrap Aurora ecozone

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Militant groups will file with the Supreme Court tomorrow a petition questioning the constitutionality of Republic Act 10083, which created the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco).

The petitioners include fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) together with the Panlalawigang Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Aurora, Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon and the umbrella alliance Resist Apeco! Defend Aurora Movement.

Salvador France, vice-chairperson of Pamalakaya, said that before the filing of the case, a “planking” protest will be held at the Senate to demand the rejection of the P332.5 million budget for Apeco operations next year. He said Anakpawis party list Rep. Rafael Mariano will also file a bill at the House of Representatives calling for the repeal of RA 10083.

The petitioners said the Apeco law violates the constitutional provision on social justice and “ promotes clear violation of national patrimony.”

“Phase 2 of the Apeco project entails landgrabbing of 12,427 hectares of prime agricultural lands in San Ildefonso Peninsula and will adversely affect 5,430 residents in five barangays and will eventually displace 22,043 residents of Casiguran and nearby towns, mostly indigenous people, fisherfolk and farmers,” France said.

Pamalakaya said the project will affect fishing activities and rice production in Casiguran and Northern Aurora. “Farming villages of Dibet and Esteves, which are considered the rice granary in Casiguran and made up of 493 hectares of productive rice farm will be converted into support infrastructures for Apeco,” he said.

Pamalakaya said that the P2 billion fund spent for the Apeco since 2007 should also be accounted for and that Congress should not release the P332.5 million budget allocated for the project next year.