Legarda calls for cancellation of mining permits in Sibuyan
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Inquirer
Last updated 07:36pm (Mla time) 10/05/2007
MANILA, Philippines--Senator Loren Legarda on Friday pushed for the cancellation of all mining permits and applications in Sibuyan Island issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to save it from degradation.
"Mining activities endanger Sibuyan Island which is a center of endemism and biodiversity and is considered by many as one of the last frontiers of the Philippines. The DENR has to suspend mining in sibuyan before it falls prey to deforestation and before the prisine water of Catingas River gets polluted.
Legarda also called for justice to the slain councilor and environmental activist Armin Marin who was killed by the security chief of the Sibuyan Nickel Property Development Corp.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan called on the government to act on the killing of the Sibuyan environmentalist with utmost urgency.
"It is not only shameful but also intolerable in a democratic country like the Philippines for such a brazen and treacherous act to take place,'' said Pangilinan in a statement.
"In light of similar attacks carried out against journalists and political activists, the administration should exhaust all means to bring to justice the perpetrators of the crime."
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