DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez lambasted the killing of anti-mining advocate Jimmy Saypan, 49, on Monday, October 17.
Lopez said such event has no place under the Duterte Administration and castigates mining companies that instigate violence and sufferings of ordinary people.
“Why was he killed? Because he wanted no mining, because he wanted betterment? Dahil diyan pinatay siya? That is not law and order, it is criminal,” Lopez said, pointing out that President Rodrigo Duterte promised law and order.
Lopez said that killings like this as well as protests and sufferings of farmers and fishermen because of mining indicate irresponsible mining practices.
“Responsible mining hindi nagdurusa ang tao (does not make people suffer). Responsible mining, walang dusa sa mamamayan. If magdurusa ang farmers and mangingisda, that is not responsible. If the rivers are silted, the farmlands are silted, that is not responsible. Kung ang mamamayan ay hindi masaya ibig sabihin may mali diyan,” Lopez said while on a visit at the wake of Saypan in Montevista, Compostela Valley.
Lopez admits that DENR share the blame for giving permits even though preconditions were not met but will no longer allow that.
“You cannot build an economy that is based on suffering. Na magdurusa ang tao ang mangingisda, magdurusa ang mga magsasaka at dahil diyan magkakapera ang iba. Mali, di ba? Pwede silang magkapera, walang problema yan, pero hindi nagdurusa ang mga maliliit na tao. You cannot do that and it cannot happen,” Lopez said when asked about claims by big mining companies in Mindanao that they are all supportive and practicing responsible mining.
Lopez said there should be social justice, especially in Mindanao, saying that conflict reigns because people are not enjoying the resources of the island.
Lopez, who was in town for a regional Gross National Happiness forum and workshop with Bhutan GNH Center Executive Director Dr. Saamdu Chetri, dropped by the wake of Saypan where she encouraged those fighting against mining in their communities to continue Saypan’s advocacy.
Saypan, married, a farmer, and resident of Purok 2, Barangay San Jose in Montevista and secretary general of the Compostela Farmers Association who was also known as a staunch anti-mining activist, was shot Monday morning, October 10, by two unidentified men in Barangay New Visayas, Montevista, Compostela Province and was immediately rushed to a hospital in Tagum City but was declared dead around 2:20 p.m. of the same day.
Saypan has been receiving death threats because of his active involvement in anti-mining activities.
