BUTUAN CITY ,Philippines – The National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), Caraga regional office and non-government organization, Caraga Indigenous People’s Management and Action for Development (CIPMAD), yesterday welcomed the filing of House Bill No. 1821 which seeks an investigation of the Oct. 3 attacks by New People's Army (NPA) rebels on three mining firms in Claver, Surigao del Norte.
NCIP Caraga regional office chief for Indigenous People’s Services and Technical Division Bae Nening Catuburan told The STAR in an interview Friday afternoon, she hoped the inquiry will also adress the problem of tribal communities in Claver town.
“Let us be serious to it we have to look into the plight of the affected Mamanwa tribes affected by mining and we pray the long overdue problems of the tribes be finally solved. Let us not wait for another attacks and burning to happen before we act altogether. CIPMAD stands to fight for the rights of Mamanwa tribes not only to survive but with dignity in acknowledging their rights as well as empowering them” CIPMAD founder Serge Pascual told The STAR in an interview Sunday.
He said representatives of CIPMAD, an NGO helping the Mamanwa tribes in Claver, Surigao del Norte, will attend the congressional inquiry if invited.
Rep. Guillermo Romarate, Jr. of the second district of Surigao del Norte filed the resolution last Oct. 12.
The congressman said the inquiry will focus on allegations by NPA rebels that the three mining companies, namely, Taganito High-Pressure Acid Leaching Plant-Sumitomo, Taganito Mining Corp. TMC and Platinum Group Metals Corp. have engaged in “wanton indiscriminate mining operations in the mountains of Surigao del Norte” and that they are guilty of blatant violation of the rights of indigenous people.
The resolution also cited reports from multi-sectoral groups that the mining firms in Claver, Surigao del Norte have caused irreparable damages or destruction in the mountains of Surigao del Norte.