Last October 2, 2009, indigenous peoples and rural settlers in Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya were allegedly subjected to harassment and human rights violations by a demolition allegedly conducted by OceanaGold Philippines Inc. accompanied by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). All this happened while the entire Luzon island and its inhabitants, including Didipio, was battered by typhoon Ondoy and super typhoon Pepeng, and the entire country was declared by the government to be under a state of calamity.

According to residents of Didipio, approximately 100 fully armed men believed to be from the regional, provincial, and municipal PNP assisted the demolition crew, which according to estimates is also close to a 100 in numbers. Violence ensued when the PNP tried to forcefully break the barricade of the residents by using tear gas, truncheons and shields. Prior to the said event, one of the target houses for the demolition, the house of Elmer Lawagan, an Ifugao resident in the area, was burned down. Elmer Lawagan, while attempting to save his house from being burned down, was mauled by 5 bonnet-wearing men. As of this writing, Elmer Lawagan is still confined in a hospital in Baguio City.

According to Gerry Arances, LRC-Luzon Campaigns Paralegal. “This dastardly act should be condemned in the highest degree. While the whole country, particularly the people of Luzon, is trying to cope with the destruction brought by typhoon Ondoy and the fear of what super typhoon Pepeng might bring, this callous act was executed.

“The perpetrators of this act were like robbers and opportunists in times of calamity and destruction. Instead of aiding the distressed, as what most of us did during that time, they were busy perpetuating an act that exacerbates an already distressful situation.” Arances added.

“We are also alarmed with the amount of force that was used in the said operation. How can 100 police personnel be deployed to aid one mining company, when most of the people in the region were in desperate need of aid and assistance? The Commission on Human Rights and other government agencies, as well as the local government units in the region and the province should immediately investigate this matter.” Arances asserted.

“Likewise, how can the DENR, along with the PNP, aid a mining company that has long lost its capacity to financially and organizationally operate the Didipio mining project. The DENR, particularly Sec. Atienza, should have already revoked OceanaGold’s mining permit. Based on his pronouncements in January of this year, he gave the mining company 6 months to resume operation or face the consequences of being taken over by the agency. It has almost been a year now and yet the DENR is even supporting the mining company in executing such an insensitive act.” Arances concluded.

 

Note: As of this writing, a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the demolition of the particular area was extended until October 19, 2009.