Anti-mining group confident due process will back DENR’s closure of mines

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) on Thursday welcomed the Malacañang directive to give due process to mining companies ordered closed and suspended by Environment SecretaryGina Lopez, indicating that the results of the recent mining audit would stand scrutiny.sho

"From our own database, there is overwhelming documentation and evidence that prove the closures are with merit. We offer these documents to DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and the MICC (Mining Industry Coordinating Council) for their own perusal," ATM said in a statement.

Lopez last week ordered the closure and suspension of several mining companies in the country, following the result of its industry-wide, months-long environmental audit.

The group said it was under the impression that the decision to close and suspend mines did not only rely on the mining audit, but also on local reports of non-government organizations (NGOs) and local government units (LGUs), and news coverages among others.

"The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines wrongly maintains a narrow viewpoint when they insist that the Mining Audit report was the sole basis for the closures and suspensions," ATM said.

"Our alliance argues that Sec. Lopez was actually enforcing environmental laws and policies when she decided to close these mines. Standards were not met, laws were violated, so it should come as no surprise that violators will be penalized," it added.

ATM said it welcomed the plan of COMP to seek legal remedies, but said it was confident it would have "strong and reliable evidence" to refute their claims.

"In behalf of the thousands of mining-affected communities who are resisting these destructive mines, we reserve the right to exercise the protection and fulfillment of our human rights and we are prepared to launch meta-legal and extra-legal measures should these closures and suspensions be revoked," ATM said. —NB, GMA News