PRESS STATEMENT
The recent presidential interviews have drawn the line on the contentious issue of mining. We call on the Filipino voting public to push for ‘zero votes’ for the pro-mining candidates Panfilo Lacson, Isko Moreno, Manny Pacquiao, and Bongbong Marcos.
Lacson, Moreno, Pacquiao, and Marcos Jr. declared support for the myth of ‘responsible mining’ and courted mining money. Only Leni Robredo was the lone critic who promised to reverse the Duterte government’s lifting of the mining moratorium and to declare mining ‘no go’ zones. Leody De Guzman is also on record opposed to destructive mining.
Responsible mining is nothing but fake news so long as our mining laws provide guarantees and incentives and weaken environmental and social safeguards.
So-called responsible mining standards have resulted in massive water depletion and pollution for the villagers of Barangay Didipio in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya; the flash floods in the Caraga region amid Super Typhoon Odette; and more recently the mine tailings spill that wiped out a river in Banaybanay, Davao del Norte.
We will campaign for a zero vote against these pro-mining candidates especially in provinces and regions facing mining applications and operations. In the 2016 elections, this was a pivotal electoral issue. These candidates should beware.#
