REPORT ON THE PASTORAL MISSION FOR SOLIDARITY

Prepared by Ilocos Network for the Environment (Defend Ilocos) and Ilocos Human Rights
Alliance with the collaboration of the Indigenous Peoples Program of the United Church of
Christ in the Philippines North Luzon Jurisdiction, May 18, 2015
INTRODUCTION
The Pastoral Mission for Solidarity was conducted in the Municipality of Quirino, Ilocos Sur on
May 14-16, 2015 with Ilocos Network for the Environment (Defend Ilocos) and Ilocos Human
Rights Alliance as lead organizations and with the assistance of the Indigenous Peoples Program
of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines North Luzon Jurisdiction and Save Quirino
Movement.
The Pastoral Mission for Solidarity has three aspects:
pastoral mission to express support and solidarity of different organizations, institutions
and individuals to the people of Quirino in their fight against destructive mining and
human rights violations;
immersion in some communities of Quirino in order to enrich ones knowledge on the
situation and issues concerning the people; and
gathering of information and documentation regarding the effects of mining and
militarization in the livelihood and life of the locality.
Forty individuals representing 7 organizations and 2 institutions of the United Church of Christ
in the Philippines (UCCP) participated in the mission. The organizations and institutions are:
Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA)
Ilocos Network for the Environment (Defend Ilocos)
Ilocos Sur Ecumenical Movement (ISEM)
UCCP NLJ Indigenous Peoples Program
UCCP North Luzon Amburayan Conference (NLAC)
Ilocos Sur Human Rights Advocates (ISHRA)
La Union Peace and Justice Advocates
Solidarity of Ilocos Association of Women
Save Mankayan Movement
The Nueva Segovia Clergy Assembly headed by Msgr. Cosmenio Rosimo sent a solidarity
message.
The activities were conducted in 5 communities in 3 barangays. More than 300 residents
participated in the study sessions, consultation meetings and workshops on human rights and
environmental situation. There were also focused group discussions and counselling of members
of SQM and their families who are victims of coercion and intimidation by alleged armed agents
of the government.
RESULTS OF THE CONSULTATION MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS
In the period of 3 days and on the basis of the activities conducted, the Pastoral Mission for
Solidarity confirmed that the people are affected by the grave destruction of their natural
resources and wealth due to the extensive and ever intensifying mining operations in and out of
the municipality. Aside from these are the overlapping applications of big mining companies.
From this condition, arises a wide and resolute struggle of the people for the defense of life and
livelihood.

Due to the diametrically opposed stand of the people with the present programs of the
government, the well-known leaders and communities opposed to mining are experiencing
various forms of harassment and threats. From 2005 up to the present, Quirino is one of the
main targets of military operations. Only last February to March, the 81st Infantry Battalion of
the Philippine Army and the Regional Public Safety Battalion of the Philippine National Police
waged an operation without let up.
The group documented the issues, problems and experiences of the people from the last part of
2012 to the present. The following are the known human rights violations as a result of mining
and militarization in the area:
1. Violations of Socio-Economic Rights of the People
a. Destruction of livelihood (farming and fishing) due to the pollution of Balas-iyan
River caused by extensive mining of gold and copper in Barangay Patiacan, Quirino
and Sitio Maliten, Barangay Laylaya, Besao, Mt. Province. Six barangays composed
of 10 communities with a total population of 4,846 are affected.
It was found out that fishkill occurred in Balas-iyan from Sitan Creek in Patiacan
down to Barangay Cayus last April 25 this year. The concerned communities also
shared the information that harvest in some areas has decreased by half since the
start of mining operations.
b. The water source of the households in Madapoy and Patungcaleo are in danger of
being contaminated or poisoned since two leaching ponds which are filled with
cyanide, zinc powder and carbon were constructed at a higher level than the water
source. Mercury and borax are also used in the production of higher quality gold.
c. Lack of a resolute step of the concerned local government units (municipal and
provincial) and agencies in order to put a halt to destructive mining and the use of
leaching pond in Quirino.
Despite the issuance of a Cease-and-Desist Order from the Mines and Geosciences
Bureau on March 28, 2012 and Executive Order No. 3, Series of 2012, mining
operations in Patiacan has intensified that even backhoes, loaders and trucks have
been used.
The Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur has not acted upon the petition of Save
Quirino Movement that was coursed through Sangguniang Panlalawigan member
Robert Tudayan on August 12, 2011. Despite a consultation by the committee headed
by SPM Tudayan on December 7, 2012, the official did not pass and share the report
on the result of the consultation.
d. The operations and expansion of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company in
Mankayan, Benguet continue to contaminate and silt the Abra River.
The threat of destruction of farmlands along the river due to the expected expansion
of the operations of Lepanto after the approval of the mining application of Lepantos
partner, Gold Fields Limited has increased. The people expressed their fear that the
reclaimed and developed farmland in commandancia (at the bank of the Abra River)

would be flooded and contaminated once Gold Fields starts its operations. It is
expected that more tailings and contaminants will be drained into the Abra River.
e. While the military waged its operations from February until the early part of April,
the livelihood of the people were affected:

Soldiers of the 81st IBPA encroached into the farm of a resident of Madapoy
by destroying its fence last February that resulted in the destruction of his
rice plants.

The work of 15 individuals employed in the concrete paving of the QuirinoCervantes Road were suspended for about two weeks because the military
used their equipment for transportation and for fetching water while the
military encamped in Brgy. Namipit in March.

The barangay folks avoided going to their farms and gathering firewood for
fear that they might encounter members of the Philippine Army along their
way and might be accused of being members of the New Peoples Army.

2. Violations of Civil and Political Rights of the People

a. Harassment and intimidation on the leaders and members of Save Quirino
Movement

Surveillance on leaders of SQM by alleged members of the Armed Forces of

the Philippines and Philippine National Police

Threat on 2 leaders through text messages and phone calls; and

Accusations by the PA and PNP that SQM was responsible for the burning of
the plant of South Ocean Mining Corporation (SOMC) and the ambush of the
PA in Brgy. Namitpit.

b. Non-recognition of the right of SQM to organize and to conduct activities by

some officials of the local government.
c. Lack of assurances from the local government that sufficient consultations on the
mining operations in Brgy. Patiacan and the operations of SOMC in other
affected communities are made.

Mining was allowed in Patiacan and a leaching pond was established without
any consultation with the communities where mine tailings were drained.

The plant of SOMC was erected and was allowed to operate for 6 months even
in the absence of an Environmental Compliance Certificate and an
Environmental Work Program.

3. Violations of Socio-Cultural Rights

a. The Ilocos Sur Provincial Public Safety Company (ISPPSC) and the Regional
Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) alternated in using as a temporary command post
of the dap-ay of Brgy. Lamag from October 2014 to February 2015.
b. The SOMC was allowed to construct and operate without a Free, Prior and
Informed Consent from the affected communities.
4. Violations of International Humanitarian Law and RA 7610Pannakalabsing ti
International Humanitarian Law ken RA 7610
a. On March 4, 2015, the classes in Namitpit Elementary School were suspended
while members of the 81st IBPA manoeuvred and repositioned at the cemetery
and near the residential area. Because of this, the affected residents left their
houses and went to the center of the barangay.
b. Alternate use of public building (dap-ay) as tactical post by the ISPPSC and
RPSB for almost four months. The dap-ay is located at the heart of community.

STEPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1. For the concerned organizations and institutions:
a. A follow-up activity for a longer and deeper integration with the people shall be
made in order to deepen ones understanding of their issues and problems. This
shall be done in different communities and barangays of Quirino.
b. Help in the expansion of support for the struggle against destructive mining in
Quirino in particular and against large-scale and plunderous mining in general. .
2. In relation to destructive mining, there is a need:
a. To conduct an environmental investigative mission and an on-site inspection
with concerned agencies like MGB and EMB in order to study decisive steps that
should be implemented that would put an end to destructive mining and
rehabilitate affected areas.
b. To follow-up the petitions, charge the concerned officials for their inaction and
expose their incompetence.
c. To reject applicants of mining companies by not granting FPIC and conduct study
sessions to equip the people with knowledge against the deceptions of the mining
companies.
d. For a decisive action from the leaders of the province since it has been proven
that the municipal officials could not solve this problem and there are other
towns of Ilocos Sur affected by the contamination of the Abra River.
e. To declare a ban or moratorium on mining in the province especially in places
where mining poses dangers to life and destroys farmlands.
3. In relation to the violations of human rights, there is a need:
a. To conduct additional training on human rights and documentation of violations
of these
b. To file cases of documented human rights violations in the Joint Monitoring
Committee and Commission on Human Rights.

c. For the 81st IBPA, RPSB and other armed forces of the government to pull out in
the area in particular, and for a halt to Oplan Bayanihan in general.
4. Conduct a dialogue between government agencies and the provincial government on one
hand, and peoples organizations like the SQM on other, regarding on cooperation on
how to resolve the problems of environmental destruction and the effects of
militarization.