Blaans not anti-mining, tribal leaders clarify

MANILA, Philippines - Elders and leaders of Blaan tribal communities from Tampakan, South Cotabato and Kiblawan, Davao del Sur are asking detractors not to label them anti-mining although they admitted having concerns about the proposed Tampakan mining project in the area.

“Peace and order has always been our concern in the past even before the entry of the mining company and yet no one was helping us then,” said Tong Capion, a tribal elder in Bong-Mal, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur.

“We have concerns with contractors and the mining company but we do not oppose the Tampakan project,” said Dot Capion, tribal chieftain of the Blaan tribe in Bong-Mal.

The Capions are the elder brothers of Daguil Capion, a Blaan native who is the subject of an arrest warrant for alleged extortion and other criminal activities against Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), the government contractor for the proposed $5.9-billion Tampakan mining project.

“Daguil has issues with local contractors but he is not anti-mining,” Dot Capion said. “People should stop associating our concerns with anti-mining sentiments.”

According to Dot Capion, they are protecting their ancestral domain but is “open to a responsible development of the mineral resources found in their lands.”