THERE was talk long ago of allegedly, a former president who owns/has an interest in a mining company? Of former presidents and cabinet members who had a lucrative racket on mining firms similar the days when ‘logging concessions’ were in its hay-days? Such large amounts of potential money processed before the desk of Palace boys, will surely attract transactional approval, depending on percentages changing hands the way a fly will navigate towards the stench of corruption.
There is a report of a former secretary who was in the look-out to sell his ‘mining franchise’ for a hefty sum. In business, this is called “flipping” to gain quick money without necessarily intending to operate said business. Somewhere in the deep South of the country, there is a tale of a ‘mining concession’ bought at an inexpensive amount, since it is located in a troubled-area with armed extremists lording over, and flipped to a Chinese Corporation for a multi-million peso profit.
Said firm made a tender of purchase, unperturbed of the law and order situation since it is familiar dealing in such parts of the world. They operate mining companies in hot-spots, such as Africa. They worked out a system where the foreign capitalists spoke to rebel leaders and hired the armed groups in said area as security. They also receive a share of every mining truck shipped abroad.
This a long foreword of the kind of multi-billionaire enemies Secretary Gina Lopez of Environment and Natural Resources is up against for her confirmation hearing with the Commission on Appointments. It is not above said mining companies served ‘closure orders’ to put-up a lobby fund in the Senate and Congress against Lopez. The latter’s best defense are a folder of violations committed by said concessionaires and backed-up with graphic photos and a documentary, via film, of the irresponsible rape of our mountains, rivers etc.
The protest action of mining employees is a case of barking at the wrong tree. In the first place, they would not be out of a job if their management had not violated environmental laws. They better protest in front of their respective employers instead. Change has come to save our environment and resources. (Erik Espina)