Palawan Journalist Gets Death Threats Over Mining Story

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PUBLISHED ON April 5, 2008 AT 11:52 AM

A Palawan-based journalist was threatened with death on 3 April 2008 after he wrote that a mining company was blocking plans to declare a forest in Brooke’s Point, Palawan as a protected area. Palawan is an island southwest of Manila.

Redempto Anda, a Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent and an editor for the local newspaper Palawan Star, received the threat through his mobile phone. The text message said that the person after him was protecting the interest of a certain “Kapitan” (Captain).

“Watch your back you have been tempting the gods! Don’t even think they will take it kindly that you are on a personal crusade against the KAPITAN,” the text message he received read.

Anda later received another message saying, “Be kind to an animal? Yes we will, through mercy killing! Good luck.”

The messages were sent through the mobile number 09267869353, which is now turned off.

Anda said in a phone interview that the threat came after his story on the plans of the mining company MacroAsia was published in the 1 April 2008 issue of the Inquirer.

Anda’s story said that MacroAsia, the flagship company of business tycoon Lucio Tan, was planning to launch a large-scale nickel mining project at Mt. Mantalingahan in Brooke’s Point, Palawan despite government plans of declaring it a protected area.

Anda quoted the Palawan NGO Network (PNNI) as saying that MacroAsia was “manipulating” some tribal leaders, who are members of and Brooke’s Point Federation of Tribal Councils, to stop the declaration of the mountain as a protected area.

Anda said the threat affected him in “a big way.” “Hindi muna ako susulat ng istorya sa mining (I won’t be writing stories on mining for the meantime),” he said.

After receiving the message, Anda immediately reported it to the local police as well as to the management of the Inquirer. The Inquirer, he said, has decided that he should “lie low for the meantime” on mining stories.

He also approached the management of MacroAsia regarding the threat he received. But, MacroAsia denied any involvement. (CMFR)

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One Response to “Palawan Journalist Gets Death Threats Over Mining Story”

isabelle Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Advocacy Campaign Case Study

ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN CASE STUDY: THE ANTI-MINING ADVOCACY PROJECT OF THE PHILIPPINE MISEREOR PARTNERSHIP

By: Eero Brillantes, CEO, Mind Bullet Inc. (http://www.mindbullet.org/)

I. THE CONTEXT

In 2005, The Anti-Mining Advocacy Project was launched by the Philippine Misereor Partnership (PMP) . It is a large group of civil society and peoples organizations being supported by development assistance from the German’s Bishops’ Conference. It was an attempt by anti-large scale mining advocates within members of PMP to share knowledge, networks, and on the ground advocacy experiences. It was likewise recognized that national synchronized activities needed to be done and for the group to establish working links with other big campaigns and foundations like the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE), National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace-Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (NASSA-CBCP), and Ecology Desk-Archdiocese of Manila. I was hired to head the advocacy team for PMP.

To me and the team, the challenge was multifaceted. The campaign comes at the heels of a resurgent and energized mining industry with the government itself doing a global marketing blitz. The Supreme Court overturned a previous decision of not allowing international mining companies to perpetuate in the country. Mining and mining applications were mushrooming all over the country.

Armed with limited budget but lots of well meaning organizations and dedicated advocates, a strategy was mapped out to put the brakes on large scale mining and bring groups to the negotiating table.

II. THE END GAME MAPPED OUT

The end game was two pronged. First was to get support from Philippine Bishops to come out with a statement critical of the unabated large scale mining in the country. Second was to leverage the support of Bishops so that the government will engage in dialogue and hopefully concrete commitments are solicited.

III. THE TRIGGER LAUNCH

To trigger the campaign, an anti-mining road show was implemented. Two compelling videos entitled Sa Ngalan ng Mina (In the Name of Mining) were produced and distributed to all campaign members and affected communities. A photo exhibit was also distributed along with the videos. Highlighting these visual presentations were the celebrated anti-mining struggles of communities in Didipio, Nueva Viscaya, Mt. Canatuan in Zamboanga Del Norte, and Rapu Rapu Island in Bicol. (The anti-mining videos and photo exhibit were done by award winning video film maker Geraldine Torres-Brillantes).

IV. ACCELERATOR ACTIVITIES

Representatives of affected communities, especially the indigenous peoples, went on a national media blitz to drum up support for the campaign.

Tactical awareness and mobilization activities at the level of affected areas in around 78 provinces were done through out the year.

Support from Metro Manila came from Catholic Schools with strong environmental protection advocacies.

The roadshow went on for about a year. By that time, community level opposition was already gaining critical mass in many areas. Through the combined efforts of PMP, ATM, like minded groups, and affected communities themselves, the stage was set to put into motion the demand for a dialogue with government.

V. IMPLEMENTING THE END GAME SCENARIO

The PMP campaign staff sought the assistance of NASSA-CBCP, the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and also a member of the PMP, to spearhead the dialogue efforts.

By that time, the CBCP through a pastoral statement reiterated its call for the care for environment and for government and mining companies to become accountable for the destruction of communities with large scale mining activities.

In March 10, 2006, at the Traders Hotel in Manila, NASSA-CBCP conducted a National Mining Forum, attended by social action directors and staff representing many of the affected communities. It was also during that forum that an important side meeting was scheduled. A selected delegation of Philippine Bishops met with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Speaker Jose De Venecia, along with some cabinet secretaries. Incidentally, March 10 also marked the anniversary of the passage of the Philippine Mining Act.

The dialogue resulted in the following:

1. A review by the legislature of the Mining Act of 1995
2. Creation of the Bastes commission to review and recommend courses of action on the issue of fishkills and pollution done by Lafayette Mining in Rapu Rapu island, Bicol.
3. Direct assistance to communities affected adversely by large scale mining.

VI. ENFORCEMENT OF AGREEMENTS

As of this writing, the enforcement of the agreements are being done through the Office of the President and the NASSA-CBCP. In turn, NASSA-CBCP updates the PMP and other campaign stakeholders. While this constitutes a very important track, other campaigns and initiatives are ongoing at the international, national, and community levels. The struggles of affected communities continue.

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