Napoles 2014 List of Senators and Congressmen/women involved in PHP 10 BILLION Pork Barrel Fund Scam

Maliwanag na nagkasabwatan ang Pamahalaang Aquino, DOJ at Ombudsman para mga kalaban lang sa pulitika ang nakasuhan (Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada at Bong Revilla) sa Pork Barrel Fund Scam.

napoles top 5 senators plus

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20 senators, 100 congressmen named on Napoles’ long list

By: Matikas Santos – NewsLab Lead / @MSantosINQ
INQUIRER.net  May 26, 2014

MANILA, Philippines – Twenty Senators, 100 congressmen, and all of their agents in the pork barrel transactions were named in the affidavit of Janet Lim Napoles submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Monday.

“To the extent of my knowledge, the following are the Senators, Congressmen and their agents and the officials or staff of implementing agencies of government that had connections with me and received part of the pork barrel,” Napoles said in her affidavit.

1. Biazon, Rodolfo and agent “Bernanrd”

2. Barbers, Robert and agent Rose Palacio

3. Enrile, Juan Ponce and agents “Dona Senora” Ruby Chan Tuazon, Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, Tet de Joya, Freddie Villamor, and Butch Tuazon

4. Estrada, Jinggoy and agent “Dona Senora” Ruby Chan Tuazon

5. Estrada, Loi and agents Lyn and Matt Ranillo, Butch Tuazon, Tet de Joya, and Pauline Labayen

6. Honasan, Gringo and agent Atty. “Danny” (Office of Senator Honasan)

7. Jaworski, Robert and agent Dudut Jaworski (prior to his election as Congressman) and Tet de Joya

8. Lapid, Lito and agent Zenaida Ducut

9. Legarda, Loren and agent Catherine Mae “Maam Maya” Canlas Santos

10. Magsaysay, Ramon and agents Patricia “Gay” Agana Tan, Bibing Agana Villacorta, Atty. Yacky Agana

11. Marcos, Ferdinand Jr. and agent Catherine Mae “Maam Maya” Canlas Santos

12. Oreta, Tessie Aquino and agent Carlos “Caloy” Reyes (Liason of Sen. Tessie Oreta)

13. Pimentel, Aquilino and agent Mon Arcenas

14, Pimentel, Koko and agent Jewel Pimentel, Luis ‘Louie’ Cruz

15. Revilla, Ramon Jr. and agent Richard Cambe

16. Sotto, Vicente and agent Jeniffer “Jen” Corpuz

17. Villar, Cynthia and agent Arman Padilla (Minority Block)

18. Villar, Manny and agent Jun Adriano

An additional three senators were included under the heading “(CAMPAIGN FUNDS ONLY). They are

Villar, Manny and agent Jun Adriano

19. Cayetano, Allan Peter with no agent

20. Escudero, Francis Chiz with no agent

The representatives, current and former, that were named on the list are:

1. ABAD, FLORENCIO | MANUEL JARMIN

2. AGARAO, BENJAMIN | CATHERINE MAE “ma’am Maya” CANLAS SANTOS

3. ALBANO, RODOLFO | CLAVEL MARTINEZ

4. AMATONG, PROSPERO | HON.ICLAVEL MARTINEZ

5. ANGARA-Castillo BeHarlot | ARMAN PADILLA (Minority Block)

6. ARROYO, IGGY | CARLOS “Butch” TUAZON

7. ARROYO, MIICEY | CARLOS “Butch” TUAZON

8. BAGATSING, AMADO | MINA NIEVA

9. BANAAG, LEOVIGILDO

10. BATERINA, SALACNIB | RUTH ALLEN RUSTE

11. BERATIO, NAPOLEON

12. BIAZON, RUFFY | BERNARD

13. CAGAS, MARC DOUGLAS | ZENNY DUCUT

14. CHAVEZ, LEONILA | CORA GONZALES

15. CHIONGBIAN, ERWIN | RUTH ALLEN RUSTE AND BEBOT LAYUG

16 CHIPECO, JOAQUIN | ARMAN PADILLA

17 CUENCO, ANTONIO | MARGIE TAHON

18 DANGWA, SAMUEL | CARLOS LOZADA

19 DEFENSOR, MATIAS | MATTE DEFENSOR

20 DEL MAR, RAUL | CLAVEL MARTINEZ

21 DILANGALEN, DIGADEN

22 DIMAPORO, ABDULLAH | ZENY DUCUT

23 DUCUT, ZENAIDA

24 ECLEO, GLENDA | PATRICIA “Gay” AGANA TAN | GIBING AGANA VILLACORTA | ATTY. YACKY AGANA

26 EMANO, Yevgeny VICENTE | CHERYL “Cheche” YARRA

26 ESPINOSA, EDGAR

27 ESTRELLA, CONRAD III | DEXTER MANALO

28 ESTRELLA FtEYMUND | DEXTER MANALO

29 FABIAN, ERICO | RUTH ALLEN RUSTE

30 FALCON, JESNAR | LEOVIGILDO, BANAAG

31 FALCON, PETER | LEOVIGILDO, BANAAG

32 FLORES, FLORENCIO

33 FUENTEBELLA, ARNULFO | ZENNY DUCUT

34 GULLAS, GERALD | CHERYL “Cheche” YARRA

35 JOAQUIN, ULIRAN | ALICE NAVALES VILLANUEVA

36 JARAULA, CONSTANTINO

37 LAGDAMEO, ANTONIO JR | LUIS ‘LOUIE’ CRUZ

38 LANETE, RIZALINA SEACHON

39 LANETE, SCOTT DAVIES

40 LIBANAN, MARCELINO | CATHERINE MAE “Ma’am Maya” CANLAS SANTOS

41 MACARAMBON, BENASING JR.

42 MADAMBA, SUNNY ROSE | JOHNNY ROXAS

43 MAGSAYSAY, EULOGIO | WIFE

44 MALANYAON, CORAZON |BOMBIT DELA PENA

45 MALAPITAN, OSCAR

46 MARTINEZ, CLAVEL

47 MERCADO, ROGER

48 MIRAFLORES, FLORENCIO | ZENNY DUCUT

49 MIRANDA, ANTHONY | MICKY ARROYO

50 MONTEJO, NEIL BENEDICT | MARIA CRISTINA “C3″ TUANO

51 NIEVA, ERNESTO “Bazai” | MINA NIEVA, Daughter

52 OLANO, ARREL

53 ORTEGA, MANUEL | ZENNY DUCUT and CLAVEL MARTINEZ

54 ORTEGA VICTOR | ZENNY DUCUT

55 PABLO, ERNESTO | JOHNNY ROXAS

56 PADILLA, CARLOS | ARMAN PADILLA (Minority Block)

57 PANGANDAMAN, HUSSEIN

58 PANGANDAMAN, NASSER

59 PICHAY, PROSPERO | ZENY DUCUT

60 PINGGOY, ARTHUR

61 PLAZA, RODOLFO

62 RAMIRO,  HERMINIA | ALICE NAVALES-VILLANUEVA

63 REAL, ISIDRO | PATRICIA ‘Gay” AGANA TAN, BIBING AGANA VILLACORTA, ATTY. YACKY AGANA

64 REMULLA, GILBERT | TET DE JOYA

65 RODRIGUEZ, MAXIMO |

66 RODRIGUEZ, OCA

67 RODRIGUEZ, RUFUS | MAX RODRIGLlEZ

68 ROMUALDO, JURDIN JESUS | MAITE DEFENSOR

69 ROMUALDO, PEDRO | JURDIN JESUS ROMUALDO

70 SANDOVAL, RICKY | TET DE JOYA

71 SANDOVAL, VICENTE | TET DE JOYA

72 SANTIAGO, JOSEPH | JULIE UNICO

73 SOLIS, JOSE | CORA GONZALES, former DA-NAFC employee

74 SUPLICO, ROLEX | ARMAN PADILLA (Minority Block)

75 TULAGAN, GENEROSO | RAFAEL NANTES

76 UMALI ALFONSO “Boy” | CORA GONZALES

77 UMALI, AURELIO “Oyi” | MAITE DEFENSOR

78 UMALI, REYNALDO

79 UNGAB, ISIDRO | MARIA CRISTINA “C3″ TUANO

80 UNICO, RENATO | JULIE UNICO

81 VALDEZ, EDGAR

82 VALENCIA, RODOLFO | CELIA CUASAY

83 VELOSO, EDUARDO | ZENY DUCUT

84 VILLANUEVA, JOEL  | MAITE DEFENSOR

85 YUMUL-HERMIDA, Georgilu | ARMAN PADILLA (Minority Block)

86 ZAMORA, MANUEL “Way Kurat” | ARMAN PADILLA (Minority Block)

87. ALVARADO, WILHEMINO

88. CORTUNA, JULIETA

89. DAZA, NANETTE COSTELLO | BOBBY (BROTHER OF CONGRESSWOMAN)

90. ECHEVERRI, RECOM | TET DE JOYA

91. LAPUZ, JESLI | MON ARCENAS

92. MONFORT, NARCISO | CLAVEL MARTINEZ

93. NANTES, RAFAEL

94, NOGRALES, PROSPERO

95. PABLO, ERNESTO | JOHNNY ROXAS

96. PLAZA, MARIA VALENTINA | CHRIS LINDO

97. ROMAN, ANTONIO | RUTH ALLEN RUSTE

98. ROMUALDO, JURDIN JESUS | MAITE DEFENSOR

99. SAN LUIS, RODOLFO | ARMAN PADILLA

100. ZIALCITA, EDUARDO

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III Monday night released copies of Napoles’ two affidavits to the media, but said he has not read the contents.

“In the spirit of transparency and the search of truth, and in line with my commitment to uphold the public interest, we are going to release to the media and the public and to my fellow senators, the copies of these two affidavits,” Guingona said in a press conference.

“Let the document speak for itself,’’ he added.

“We will wait for the Benhur Luy files. I understand it should be submitted by Wednesday, and then we will evaluate what we have, then we will consult the members, then we will make the necessary hearing,” he said.

By telling the truth, Napoles said she expected to step on the toes of many. “The truth hurts… but the truth will set you free,’’ she said in page one of her affidavit.

After months of prayer and reflection, she said she wished to shed light on the pork scam and Malampaya fund mess.

She said she was hurt by charges naming her as the pork barrel queen and mastermind, and describing her as “most guilty,’’ “center of controversy’’ and “architect of the PDAF scam.’’

“I am not the mastermind of the pork barrel because I didn’t start this; this has long been practice or system,’’ she said. And neither is she “the most guilty,’’ she added.

In fact, the agents of lawmakers were more knowledgeable of the scheme, Napoles said.

Specifically, it was through then Batanes Rep. Florencio Abad that she learned that she needed an NGO or cooperative to be able to deal with the agencies, she said.

Napoles named a certain Ruth “Allen’’ who helped her former aide Niel Tan in Congress, and one Catherine Mae “Maya’’ Santos who guided her in transacting with the Department of Agriculture and the Senate.

Guingona, whose staff picked up copies of the affidavits from the Department of Justice, said he would await the submission of Benhur Luy files before deciding when to resume the inquiry into the pork scam.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had twice asked for an extension for the submission of Napoles’ expanded affidavit. Her last deadline was Monday.

“I presume since we have been waiting for this for so long, that this is it,” Guingona said.

On resuming Senate investigation into the scam, he said that he could not yet set a definite date because they are still waiting for more information and documents that have previously been issued subpoenas. With a report from TJ Burgonio, Philippine Daily Inquirer

A. Copy of Napoles Affidavits from DOJ

B. Copy of Napoles Affidavits from DOJ

 

 

 

Napoles lawyer: Janet to tag officials ‘higher than lawmakers’

senators six

MANILA, Philippines – Janet Lim-Napoles is set to identify all the government officials involved in the pork barrel fund scam, her lawyer revealed yesterday.

Stephen David said Napoles is willing to cooperate in the reinvestigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) anomaly.

“Of course, there will be more officials,” David told reporters after a closed-door meeting with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

David said Napoles might come up with another list of politicians who benefitted from the pork barrel, which he claimed would be longer than the list she earlier submitted to the DOJ.

He hinted the list would also include an official in the previous administration “higher than lawmakers.”

“If she will become state witness, she should tell everything she knows… whoever is involved should really be exposed. Whatever the truth is, it should come out. Because the truth will set you free,” he said.

David, however, refused to name the high official, saying it might preempt the statement to be submitted by Napoles.

David said he had a meeting with Aguirre to discuss the possibility of Napoles becoming a state witness as well as her inclusion in the witness protection program.

David stressed the safety of his client was under threat.

“We are requesting, on our part, that she should be given a proper security should this proposition push through,” he said.

David added there were instances last February when Napoles’ personal belongings were ransacked.

“There were instances whien her belongings were scattered inside her cell as if looking for something and almost every night she started feeling uneasy for she felt someone is intently watching her,” David said.

David said Napoles is also receiving written threats from unknown individuals.

He said the threats against Napoles turned serious when the government declared the possibility of taking her as state witness in the PDAF scam.

Though he has no direct proof, David believes the threats came from “former and current high-ranking public officials who have the capability and capacity to consummate the threats.”

“These are the public officials who want Mrs. Napoles to keep silent and not expose her knowledge on the issues,” he said.

Blackmail

Aguirre, on the other hand, said he supports the bid of Napoles to transfer custody.

“I’m talking to NBI officials on the possibility if Napoles could still be accommodated in the NBI, in view of the continued threats against her,” Aguirre told a press conference later in the afternoon.

Aguirre said he agrees with the position of Napoles’ camp that she should no longer stay at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) following her recent acquittal in the serious illegal detention case by the Court of Appeals.

“Now that she’s no longer a convict, she should no longer stay in a Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) facility. The facility for her should be for detention prisoners only,” he said.

Aguirre revealed the BuCor has filed a manifestation before the Sandiganbayan, where Napoles is facing non-bailable plunder and graft cases over the pork barrel scam, seeking clarification on her detention in the CIW.

In the same press conference, Aguirre said he received information that Napoles is receiving threats and has been “blackmailed” by a certain group that is holding her brother Reynald “Jojo” Lim.

“That brother of hers is being held so that Janet will not speak,” he said.

Asked which group he was referring to, Aguirre replied: “You all know which group it is.”

Aguirre said it appeared that Lim was used to “blackmail” his sister in the PDAF cases during the previous administration.

Lim was a co-accused of Napoles in the serious illegal detention case filed by whistle-blower Benhur Luy.

Lim, however, remained in hiding and authorities have yet to determine his whereabouts.

Aguirre earlier revealed the reinvestigation would look into the mystery behind the surrender of Napoles to then president Benigno Aquino III in August 2013.

When Napoles was tagged as the brains behind the scam, she surrendered to Malacañang accompanied by then Interior secretary Manuel Roxas II before she was brought to the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame.

David filed a motion before the Sandiganbayan seeking her transfer from the CIW to the NBI or the PNP custodial center.

Napoles is currently detained on non-bailable offenses of plunder and graft before the Sandiganbayan, though she was recently acquitted by the Court of Appeals on the serious illegal detention case.

David recalled the possibility of Napoles becoming state witness was already raised before the Office of the Ombudsman during the previous administration.

It was only after her acquittal in the serious illegal detention case when the government took interest in the pork barrel case, he said.

“We already had talks before, but it did not push through because there were allies of the previous administration,” David said.

David explained Napoles could qualify as state witness in the plunder cases.

“The case of plunder is a crime committed by a public officer. It just so happened that there are private individuals involved in the conspiracy. In that case, they cannot be considered as most guilty,” he argued.

This supported the earlier statement of Aguirre that in cases of plunder or corruption involving a government official and a private individual, the former is considered the most guilty per ruling of the Supreme Court.  – With Elizabeth Marcelo

 (The Philippine Star)

NOTE: On national radio, in an interview, the Napoles lawyer named former Budget Secretary Butch Abad as among the high officials involved in the PHP 10 Bilion Pork Barrel Fund Scam. Napoles previously testified that it was Abad who “TAUGHT” her how to navigate the Pork Barrel system through the setting up of CONDUIT cooperatives, companies and corporations.

Anyare? Bong Bong Marcos, Loren Legarda, Tito Sotto at Gringo Honsan NAKALIMUTAN NA (kasi Administration allies sila)

FUND DISBURSEMENT BREAKDOWN: SSS -Seven Senator Snakes (mga hayop sa damo) channeled hundreds of millions of pesos to Napoles NGOs for Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Quezon and Bulacan. bong revilla “pogi”, enrile “tanda”, jinggoy estrada “kuya/sexy”, bong bong marcos, gringo honasan, loren legarda and tito sotto – JAIL awaits you. Mga kagalanggalang na sa serbisyong publiko, pera pala ng bayan, ipinagbubulsa nyo. Mahiya naman kayo. Magbigti nalang kayo.

Flashback (long before Napoles): Happy times, Juan Ponce Enrile and Gigi Reyes (now both charged with PLUNDER) HTTP://BALITANGBALITA.COM/ #NAPOLES #PINAS #PHILIPPINES #BALITA #PORKBARREL #PDAF #PILIPINAS #BENHURLUY #JANETNAPOLES #MILLIONPEOPLEMARCH‪ #‎SCRAPPORK‬‪ ‪#‎ABOLISHPORK #scrapthepork

Duterte visits Lapanday farmers camped out in Mendiola

PL ap du30 mendiolaDuterte invites Lapanday farmers to dinner at Manila Hotel

Published May 9, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday invited the farmers who were camping out on Mendiola to dinner at the posh Manila Hotel.

“Kumain na kayo ng hapunan?” Duterte asked the farmers when he met them Tuesday afternoon.

“Ilan kayo lahat dito? Bong, reserve ka ng 200 sa Manila Hotel. Doon ko kayo pakainin. Ayaw ninyo? Bong, 200 sa Manila Hotel. Gusto nila Manila Hotel,” Duterte said, giving the order to Bong Go, his special assistant.

“Basta ‘yung nakabarong lahat don, huwag ninyo pansinin ‘yun. Hindi tayo magkakilala. Sabi ni Mayor, dito kami mag-kain ng hapunan… Manila Hotel… para makatikim kayo,” Duterte added.

About 200 banana plantation farmers went to Mendiola to ask Duterte to intervene and direct Lapanday Foods Corporation to abide by government orders to turn over the lands to agrarian reform beneficiaries.

The farmers belong to the Madaum Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Inc. (MARBAI) in Lapanday Foods Corporation in Tagum, Davao del Norte.

On April 18, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano was supposed to install MARBAI farmers to the 145-hectare land, but it was postponed to “ensure the safety and security of agrarian reform beneficiaries.”

Lapanday Foods Corp. deployed 800 armed security guards to barricade the banana plantation.

Last March 7, Lapanday farmers already met with members of the House of Representatives when the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) conducted an initial inquiry with Department of Agrarian Reform officials and Lapanday to investigate incidents of violence.

The farmers, who are earning P50 to P70 per day, also demand the following:

  • Immediate installation of farm workers and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) to their lands.
  • Rescind of the onerous agribusiness venture agreement between the ARBs and Lapanday.
  • End the violence and attacks against farm workers. Pull-out and punish armed security guards and goons of Lapanday.
  • Implement genuine agrarian reform.

Stay away from drugs

In his meeting with the farmers, Duterte reminded them to steer themselves away from illegal drugs.

“Wag kayong pumasok ng droga kasi pumapatay talaga ako… Ngayon trabaho lang. Ang trabaho ko maghanap ng oportunidad para tayong lahat mabuhay. Wala ng violation ang lahat,” he said.

“Ayaw ko talaga ng corruption… papatay talaga ako diyan sa corruption,” he added.  —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News

 

Duterte: Pay victims of MARCOS Martial Law ATROCITIES

fm hr board du30 speed up
From Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella :

On the Marcos compensation for human right victims

Today, May 8, the first batch of human rights victims under the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos, will receive compensation.

President Duterte gave the directive to the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB), to speed up the process of evaluating and releasing the claims of martial law victims.

Reparation payments will be done through Land Bank cards and will come in monthly tranches.

The first batch will be from Metro Manila and the HRVCB will have a schedule for the provinces.

President Duterte supports the welfare of all, not the least of which are the victims of human rights violations during the martial law years.

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Wikipedia
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. (11 September 1917 – 28 September 1989) was a Filipino politician who was President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled as a dictator under martial law from 1972 until 1981. While his regime started an unprecedented number of infrastructure projects and monuments (known colloquially as an “edifice complex” and at great taxpayer cost), it also became infamous for its CORRUPTION and BRUTALITY.

Cayetano: 2016 VP campaign financed by Zamora brothers (NICKEL MINING), repaid by voting AGAINST Gina Lopez DENR Secretary confirmation

gina zamora brothers 2

Gina Lopez: Cayetano got campaign funds from Zamoras, skewed to favor mining

Published May 4, 2017

Former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez on Thursday indicated that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was unduly influenced by the funding he allegedly received from the Zamora clan when he opposed her nomination to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

In an interview on GMA News TV’s News To Go, Lopez said Cayetano’s questioning during the confirmation process before the Commission on Appointments was skewed in favor of the mining industry.

“He clearly voted against me, it was very evident. He’s funded by, I mean the Zamoras funded his political campaign, so go figure,” Lopez said in an interview on News To Go on Thursday.

Manuel Zamora is the president of Nickel Asia, the largest nickel company in the country.

His brother, Ronaldo, is the representative of the lone congressional district of San Juan.

GMA News Online is still trying to get Cayetano and the Zamoras’ side as of posting time.

Lopez in the interview referred to Cayetano’s questioning of her differing standards on mining, logging, and the tourism industry during the resumption of her confirmation hearing on May 2.

Cayetano remarked that Lopez focused on the negatives of mining and logging while overlooking the environmental destruction that tourism brings to some beaches.

“He was saying, if you don’t allow mining, what about beach resorts? Is he saying that because people step on the shell, we should allow rivers to be destroyed?” Lopez said.

She added, “His thinking is clearly skewed towards the mining industry.”

Zamora and Lopez faced off during a confirmation hearing for the latter in March wherein she accused him of killing a mountain with his company’s, Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), mining operations.

Lopez also defended her “non-negotiable stand” regarding her environmental policies amidst talk from Ronaldo Zamora regards the qualifications for the head of the DENR.

“I just saw on the TV, Ronnie Zamora is talking about the minimum of qualifications. The most important thing here is vision and integrity. What does he want, what is necessary to lead the DENR?” she said.

“I feel the most important thing is the vision, of where you wanna go. And then two is a non-negotiable stand on integrity. Three is the ability to make things happen,” Lopez added.

The former DENR secretary added that she heard rumors of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Gringo Honasan voting against her while Senators Loren Legarda, Bam Aquino, Vicente Sotto III, Kiko Pangilinan, JV Ejercito, and Ralph Recto supposedly voted in her favor.

“The ones that I am really, really sure of is Loren, Bam, and Sotto, and Pangilinan. I do not know the other ones. JV, I love JV Ejercito. He’s the best, I really like him,” Lopez said.

“I think Lacson clearly voted. Lacson clearly voted against me, and Gringo Honasan. I was told that Recto also voted for me. I think he had some apprehension. That’s six already. I don’t know where the two more came from,” she added. —Rie Takumi/NB, GMA News

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Green groups urge ‘zero vote’ vs pro-mining bets

They single out presidential bets Mar Roxas and Jejomar Binay, and senatorial aspirant Martin Romualdez, but do not cite the tandem of Rodrigo Duterte and Alan Cayetano.

MANILA, Philippines – Environmental groups on Tuesday, March 1, urged voters not to elect candidates with business interests or involvement in mining operations in the Philippines.

In a press conference, the groups singled out 3 candidates for national positions who have ties to mining interests: presidential candidates Manuel Roxas II of the Liberal Party (LP) and Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance, and senatorial candidate Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez.

They, however, did not mention presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, whose campaigns are backed by families with mining companies.

Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, called on candidates to go beyond motherhood statements and express a clearer, firm stand on mining.

The groups are calling on policy makers to repeal the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, and instead enact an alternative mining law that they said would better serve the public’s interest.

Mining ‘apologist’

Bautista called Roxas “the most rabid apologist to big mining interests,” citing his ties with Eric Gutierrez, owner of SR Metals Incorporated (SRMI).

Roxas’ rival for the presidency, Duterte, recently accused the LP bet of protecting SMRI. The controversial mining firm had been fined P7 million in 2007 for over-extraction of nickel ore in Tubay, Agusan del Norte.

SRMI was also the subject of attacks by Senator Nancy Binay, daughter of the Vice President who filed a Senate resolution seeking an investigation into the issue.

Gutierrez, whose private planes Roxas uses for campaign sorties, is also a friend of LP stalwart Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice. Erice used to be the chairman and president of SRMI.

The environmental groups are also campaigning against Romualdez, who served as chairman of Benguet Corporation, the oldest mining corporation in the country.

His brother, Benjamin Philip Romualdez, is the chief executive officer of Benguet Corporation and is the president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Binay was criticized for his statements “that generally subscribed to the concept of ‘responsible mining’ floated by the large-scale mining industry.”

In a 2015 mining conference, Binay said he is open to the promotion of “environmentally and socially responsible mining, adopting the constitutional principle of balancing interests over the long-term.”

He also cited the mining industry’s potential to become “the biggest contributor to the Philippine economy,” and said that mining taxes should be fair and consistent with international standards.

Among the vice presidential candidates, the environmental groups said Cayetano, Senator Gregorio Honasan II, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr have expressed sentiments supporting large-scale mining.

Aside from Romualdez, senatorial aspirant and former senator Richard Gordon was also cited for his ties to Atlas Mining.

How about Duterte and Cayetano?

The environmental network did not cite Duterte, who enjoys the support of members of the Alcantara family. They own Alsons Consolidated Resources Incorporated, which has interests in mining.

Bautista lauded Duterte for banning mining activities in Davao City. But he noted that the presidential candidate has recently said he would support mining as long as it follows environmental standards.

Asked about the mining interests of the Davao mayor’s backers, Duterte’s spokesperson, Peter Lavina, said: “They are a highly diversified group. In Davao City their main business is real state and property development. They do not have any mining operations here.”

He added, “While they are supportive of the mayor, we have not received any financial support from their corporations. If any individual member of the Alcantara family gives any financial contribution, I am certain that this would be reported to the Comelec (Commission on Elections at the proper time.”

Duterte’s running mate, vice presidential candidate Cayetano, meanwhile, is backed financially by the Zamora brothers, led by businessman Manuel Zamora, chairman and founder of Nickel Asia.

As for the other presidential bets, Bautista noted that none have expressed any strong stance or clear action plans.

Senator Grace Poe, in a 2014 event, said she is open to responsible mining but also called on mining firms to be more transparent about their operations.

Pro-environment, pro-Grace Poe?

Ibarra Gutierrez, the spokesman for the ruling coalition, took exception to the allegations of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment. He said presidential bet Roxas’ “firm stance on environmental protection is on record.”

He also accused the network of fronting for presidential candidate Grace Poe and her running mate Francis Escudero.

“The groups and individuals cited are affiliated with the Makabayan bloc, which is in alliance with the Poe-Escudero camp. It is not surprising that, in the guise of promoting an environmental agenda, these groups will attack the rivals of their political patron and ally,” Gutierrez told Rappler.

“Secretary Mar is not affiliated with any ongoing mining concern, contrary to the propaganda being peddled by these Poe supporters,” he said.

Legal reform needed

Bautista said that without changes in the law, politicians’ support for “responsible mining” are just flowery promises.

Nakukulangan kami sa mga statements dahil hindi pa nagkakaroon ng responsableng pagmimina,” Bautista said. (We find their statements lacking because there hasn’t been any instance of responsible mining.)

Bautista clarified that the group does not oppose mining on the whole, but wants policy makers to repeal the current Mining Act of 1995, which allows foreign ownership of mining assets and exploration permits.

The group, along with the Scrap the Mining Act Network, is pushing for an alternative People’s Mining Bill, which they said would protect the rights of Filipino mining workers, local communities, and state interests. – Rappler.com  March 01, 2016

 

Duterte to labor groups: Occupy oligarch lands