I Had A Friend

After once having an NGO girlfriend who worked for the protection of the environment, I have come to learn a lot from her. Most of our lunch conversations would revolve mainly about the adverse effects on the environment of the reckless exploitation of the country's mineral resources and our dinner chatter would be about her frustrations about the implementation of RA 7942 liberalizing the mining industry in the country and the recent adopted government policy that encourages both local and foreign investors to engage in the mining industry. We all know for a fact that indiscriminate mining exploration and its accompanying destruction of the environment will trigger environmental disasters including deforestation, soil erosion, massive floods, landslides, pollution and other destructive effects of the disruption of ecological balance.

She mentioned, that when her NGO group learned that the CPP/NPA is also opposing the exploration of the country's mineral resources by mining firms, they found in the NPAs strange bedfellows in their campaign to protect the environment. The CPP claimed that they had been given orders to stop the plundering of the country's mineral resources detrimental to environment and to the economic interest of the nation. They pledged to do their utmost to stop especially foreign mining companies and their cahoots in the government from plundering our natural resources. Naturally, my ex-girlfiriend and her friends were somewhat elated to hear from them such unusual concern to the preservation of environmental integrity.

It did not, however, happen that way. She says her group was greatly disappointed to learn later on that the NPAs have turned their anti-mining drive into a lucrative protection racket. Through threats, coercion and intimidation, they extort protection money in staggering amounts form mining firms and operators. Even small time mining operators including the poor gold fanners in the hinterlands have been obliged to give to the NPAs protection money euphemistically called "revolutionary tax". Sometimes they call it for "payment for social obligations" to the host communities and the indigenous people affected by the mining operations. But just the same, those who give in to their extortionist demands are allowed to continue their mining operations, no matter how destructive these are to the environment. Those who refuse to pay are severely punished by destroying their mining equipment and facilities and confiscating their other belongings.

According to the PNP records, last year the NPA raided/attacked a number of both local and foreign mining companies operating in different parts of the country mainly for failure to meet the rebels' extortionist demands. Millions of pesos worth of heavy equipment, facilities and other assets were destroyed. Security details who resisted the attacks were disarmed by the marauders who carted away their firearms together with other items worth carrying. A number of people including security guards and company personnel were injured during the raid; some were abducted or held hostage and used as human shields or leverage for demanding ransom money.

Among the recent victims of such dastardly act was the Sagittarius Mines, Inc. which the NPAs burned down on January 1, 2008 in Tampakan, South Cotabato. They destroyed mining equipment and disarmed the eight security guards and carted away their firearms. One SMI employee was held hostage and later on killed by the NPAs. Five days later, the insurgents burned a bulldozer owned by the said company in Brgy Kimlawis, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur. The rebels demanded P1M from the company as protection money.

In ComVal Province, the NPAs raided the Apex Mining Company in Masara, Maco on March 6, 2008, disarmed the security guards and burned 1 pay loader, 1 jumbo drill and 1 low profile truck. They carted away assorted firearms. No casualty as reported but damage to property was placed at P15M.

On April 8, the NPAs attacked the Platinum Gold Mining Corporation in Dinapigue, Isabela for refusing to give protection money. Outnumbered and outgunned, the security details could do nothing but to surrender their firearms as demanded by the raiders. The attacking forces held hostage the company personnel for three hours.

In Bulacan, another group of NPAs attacked/raided the Oro Metal Mining Corporation in Brgy Camachin, Dona Remedios Trinidad on July 21. One security guard was killed during the exchange of fire. Earlier, on July 14, a big number of NPAs attacked the El Dore Mining Corporation in Brgy Dumagmang, Labo, Camarines Norte. Defending government security forces suffered 1 killed and 2 wounded. The rebels carted away 16 assorted firearms. On July 23, around 20 NPAs raided the Philex Mining Company in Sipalay City, Negros occidental and destroyed P1.5M worth of equipment and facilities for refusing to give in the NPA extortionist demands. The raiders carted away several assorted firearms, office supplies and communication equipment.

A large group of NPAs ransacked the DMC Mining Co. on August 23 in Brgy Calapagan, Lupon, Davao Oriental and carted away assorted firearms and communications equipment. No casualty was reported. On October 28, the NPAs raided the Philco Mining and Batoto Resource Corporation in Brgy Camanlangan, New Bataan, ComVal Povince and burned 1 bulldozer. Shortly before the end of the year, on December 22, some 50 NPAs attacked the San Roque Mining Industry in Brgy La Fraternidad, tubay, Agusan del Norte. The raiders burned down 1 volvo mining equipment and carted away 14 assorted firearms.

These are only some selected samples of the way the NPAs exploit for their own advantage the mining industry. There are more in the official police records. Whatever, it clearly shows that the movement is just using its pro-environmental advocacy to give a semblance of legitimacy to its coercive fund raising activities among mining operators. The desire for material gains, specifically for fast money in the name of revolution, has indeed, completely obliterated the movement's pretensions to the worthy cause of environmental conservation.

Oh, and the reason, why she became my ex-girlfriend, was because she got so traumatized by one raid from the Reds, she moved away to work in Qatar. So I'm blaming that failed relationship on them...