Sorsogon governor blasts anti-mining militants

Militant anti-mining activists are becoming destructive and at times irresponsible and must be restrained at the very least or dealt with to the full extent of the law if warranted, Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee said in a statement.

Lee said the foreigners who took part in "deceiving" the people of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) the other day to be able to unfurl their huge anti-mining banner from the top of the building must be investigated and if warranted, deported.

"Pouring pesticide in a creek near Lafayette’s Rapu-Rapu project and blaming the marine damage on the company to stop its test-run was actually an act of economic sabotage," he said.

So was the mercury hoax that affected about 5,000 Sorsogon fishermen when the public stopped buying fish, Lee said.

The National Bureau of Investigation has been into the case but has yet to submit its report.

"If the government fails to restrain these people, foreign investments in mining would definitely be affected," said Lee, who expects Sorsogon and Albay to benefit from mining.

"When these activists abuse their right of expression and start to trample on the rights of others, something must be done. That right is limited by the right of other people, and that means they cannot deprive the poor of work because their family must eat properly and their children must go to school," he said.

He added: "The majority must not be held hostage by an aggressive few who do not think twice about using deception and even terrorist methods in a misguided pursuit of an otherwise laudable belief."

"We are not muffling their expression of their sentiment. We only want their antics to be within bounds because mining is a legitimate business and is the hope of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in the countryside. The advocacy of ten or so militants should not prevail," he added.

Lee said some militant groups have nothing to gain from the poor getting a better life.

The poor are mostly in the remote areas where mining is supposed to benefit the most. In the case of the polymetallic project in Rapu-Rapu, once it passes the three-stage test-run being conducted by DENR (and open to the public), it is expected to hire about 1,000 workers, most of them from the host communities, and generate new businesses that would generate more jobs, Lee said.

"So far, the activists have somehow affected the investments in Bicol, particularly, and in the whole nation, in general. Anti-mining militants and their activities are being closely watched by the international business community," Lee said.

"This will definitely affect the investment prospects which our Filipino children need now and in the future. That is why, once again, our appeal to the anti-mining activists to be fair, civil and responsible in their actions and for them to consider the bigger picture of the present plight and challenges of every Filipino citizen standing next to them," he added.