2 solons want Mike Defensor probed for dubious mining deals

MANILA, Philippines - Two militant solons want former Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor probed for the alleged dubious multi-million-dollar deals his two companies entered with a Chinese mining firm. In filing House Resolution 736, Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño said the recent US$150-million nickel processing contract between Defensor’s NiHAO and Geograce and China's Jiangxi Rare Earth and Rare Metals Tungsten Group Co. may have violated provisions in the 1987 Constitution. “The mining concessions may have violated Article 12 Section 2 which requires a financial or technical assistance agreement (FTAA) signed by the President for foreign companies to exploit our mineral resources,” Ocampo and Casiño said in the resolution. The two also disclosed that two relatives of government officials are employed and are holding high positions in the companies owned by Defensor. The two were NiHAO president Jerry Angping, brother of Special Envoy to China for Trade and Investments Harry Angping, and Geograce chairman Renato Puno, brother of Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno. The resolution was filed based on the report of environment group Kalikasan Peoples Network for the Environment, which insinuated that the Arroyo government and its cronies are “profiting from the country’s mineral resources without being mindful of their harsh effects on the community.” Ocampo and Casiño said Kalikasan called it “baffling how a small mining company without a track record in the mining industry like Geograce and NiHAO could get multi-million mining deals with big foreign mining companies.” - GMANews.TV