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DENR move to pave way for the unwarranted comeback of destroying giant
Pamalakaya mulls TRO against 30-day test-run

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday is set to contest the decision of environment and natural resources secretary Angelo Reyes anytime this week.

“ The 30-day test run granted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be challenged not only in the parliament of the streets and in the court of public opinion, but also in any appropriate court. We will file a temporary restraining order this week or early next week,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The leftwing-leader said the decision of Sec. Reyes to re-open Lafayette is tragic, unacceptable and unpardonable. “ Sec. Reyes penchant for environmental tragedy and unparalleled puppetry to mining giants is displayed with his latest decision. The test-run officially announces the unwarranted comeback of a destroying giant,” Hicap added.

Hicap further said: “ The test-run granted by Secretary Reyes is an open declaration of class war against people exploited and devastated by mining giants. It is an open invitation of war also against advocates of genuine national industrialization. This is something the Chief of the DENR must regret for the rest of his life as bureaucrat capitalist in the Arroyo administration.”

Their legal counsels are currently discussing said contents of the TRO to be filed against the DENR decision and their lawyers are expected to finish the document tomorrow or on Friday.

“If they finish it on Thursday, we will file it on Friday. What is 100 percent sure is the filing of the TRO and they can’t stop us from performing our assignment in the name of the environment and people’s rights and welfare,” Hicap asserted.

Further describing the decision of DENR Secretary Reyes as gross betrayal of national patrimony and people’s interest, Hicap said will explore all legal remedies to stop the unholy alliance of the DENR, Malacañang and Lafayette Philippines Inc. from pursuing a super profit-induced and destructive mining project in Rapu-Rapu Island.

“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, certified puppet of transnational mining corporations is gambling the fate of the already fragile environment and the future of the fisherpeople to appease and please her corporate mining clients. This is totally outrageous and beyond doubt horrific,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said it would raise the recommendations of Rapu-Rapu Fact Finding Commission (RRFC) and their arguments against the Australian-based mining company as stated in the anti-graft complaint the group and other militant lawmakers filed before the Office of Ombudsman last Feb. 14, 2006 in filing the TRO against the 30-day test run granted by Reyes’ office.

Last June 1, Pamalakaya filed a motion for the speedy resolution of its’ case pending before the Office of the Ombudsman against owners and operators of Lafayette. The group included Lafayette country manager Rod Watt in the anti-graft complaint it filed before the quasi-judicial anti-graft court last Feb.14 this year.

Pamalakaya and the fact-finding mission both suggested the closure of Lafayette Philippines Inc. citing violations of 11 out of 29 conditionalities and sub-conditionalities contained in the agreement between the government and the LPI, as well as the cumulative effects and the clear and present danger posed by Lafayette’s continued operations in Rapu-Rapu Island pertaining to ecology, health and livelihood of small fishermen. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:50 | link | comments |

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