Philippines: Libel Case vs Environmental Activist, Journalist Junked

Quimpo is currently facing a libel case filed by the Philippine partner of Lafayette Mining Limited , an Australian-owned mining company controlling the Arroyo administration’s flagship mining project in Rapu-Rapu island in Albay. Last June, Lafayette Philippines Incorporated filed a P10 million libel suit against CEC-Phils and its Board of Trustees Frances Quimpo at the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office through representatives Manuel Agcaoili, President of LPI subsidiary Rapu-Rapu Processing and Bayani Agabin of another subsidiary Rapu-Rapu Minerals. Lafayette Philippines Inc. (LPI) is 74% owned by Australian Lafayette Mining Ltd.

CEC was charged with libel for producing a handout entitled “Rapu-Rapu, A Struggle Against Mining Liberalization and Plunder in the Philippines” and distributed to stockholders of Lafayette in Australia as part of CEC-Phil’s international lobbying efforts for the closure of the Rapu-Rapu mine, Bautista said.

The Lafayette Mining project in Rapu-Rapu island has been in operation since 2005. It incurred two mine tailings spills on October 11 and 31 2005, which caused fish kills in the barangays adjacent to the mine site and the nearby coastline.

Residents of the island have continually called for the mine’s closure , the rehabilitation of the area, and compensation for mining and fishkill-affected communities. This December, close to a thousand people set up a Peoples Camp or Kampong Bayan in front of the Albay Capitol last December 5 to 12 to publicly call for Lafayette’s closure in front of the provincial government office. ###

Reference:
Mr. Clemente Bautista, Jr.
National Coordinator, Kalikasan-PNE (0922-844-9787 or through 0917-817-9955)

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