They were thieves caught in the act and in broad daylight. The agents of Altai Mining who extracted 50,000 tons of nickel ore from Sibuyan without a valid permit should have been treated as criminals.

What they did amounted to “Theft of Minerals” under Section 103 of the Philippine Mining Act (R.A. 7942) which punishes any person “extracting minerals and disposing the same without a mining agreement, lease, permit, license, or who steals minerals or ores or the products thereof from mines” with imprisonment of up to six years or fine of up to P20,000.00 or both.

As I have pointed out in a previous post, an exploration permit does not authorize Altai to extract that much ore, at most only handfuls of samples. Since the area is inside a national park, even their exploration permit is dubious. They are not authorized to take anything but pictures, leave anything but footprints.

Yet, the authorities of Sibuyan gave free rein to these lowlifes, these dregs who might have been plucked from the plastic factories and iron foundries of Valenzuela. Instead of arresting them, the policemen turned on the very people preventing the crime from happening, the defenders of the forest who should have been hailed as saviors and heroes.

The mayor of San Fernando town, the governor of the province were paralyzed with fear in the face of this apocalyptic invasion of an ecosystem that they hold in trust for future generations.

They claim that Altai Mining had the license from the national government to rape their island – and being mere promdis “there’s nothing we can do”. What license? No less than the DENR issued clarifications that these interlopers were in violation of the law.

They could have done a lot more. The defense of life and property, the performance of a duty, are justifying circumstances under the law that warrant the use of force. Against the alien invaders.

Now, that the DENR has put its foot down – “temporarily suspended” mining activities – the local officials should take courage and do their duty and stand on the side of their people and arrest the agents of Altai Mining who may still be lingering at the site, which is a crime scene. They should impound their trucks and mining equipment and fence off the whole area, to start the difficult rehabilitation of the damaged environment.

In the meantime, all the like-minded Filipino people who are not friends of the Gatchalians will work toward the permanent cancellation of their MPSA and the reinforcement of the status of the area as a natural park. Sacred. Untouchable. Forever and ever.

Woe unto the Filipino people if we lose Sibuyan Island!

Photo: Cort Catajay