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Friday, October 12, 2007
Pimentel hits DENR for not closing down erring mining firm (9:40 p.m.)
MANILA--Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. Friday assailed the failure of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to stop or suspend the mining operations of a company in Sibuyan Island, Romblon, who local residents claimed, is destroying and polluting the environment.
Pimentel criticized the DENR for saying it could not stop the mining activities and cutting of trees of the Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corporation (SNPDC) as long as it has a valid small-scale mining permit issued by former Romblon governor Perpetuo Ylagan.
The Mindanaoan senator has supported calls for the closure of the SNPDC and revocation of its permit following the fatal shooting of Councilor Armin Marin of San Fernando town by a security guard while leading a peaceful protest rally near the premises of the mining firm last week.
In response to the residents’ complaint, DENR Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi said that unless the Provincial Government withdraws the mining permit, the DENR could not do anything about the tree cutting and ore mining operations of SNPDC. (CPM/Sunnex) |
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