TVIRD defends self from ‘black propaganda’ in Southern Philippines

PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 28, 2012) – The multi-awarded mining firm TVI Resource Development Inc. on Saturday defended itself from black propaganda and allegations that it organized a ‘pseudo organization’ to attack those opposing its legitimate operations in Zamboanga del Sur province in Mindanao.

Brig. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, in a statement sent to journalists, accused TVIRD of organizing a group called “K9” to do its “dirty works” in Balabag mountain in Bayog town.

Cruz did not give any details or evidence to prove his accusations which came out despite ongoing police investigations.

Just this year, Cruz also ordered the pull out of a small group of pro-government militias assigned to guard the TVIRD operation in Balabag despite threats of rebel attacks on the company.

TVIRD has a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) with the government in Balabag where illegal miners continue their nefarious activities. MPSA is an agreement between TVIRD and the Philippine government wherein the company is granted exclusive right to conduct mining operations within Balabag.

On Wednesday night, TVIRD’s security guard, Godofredo Jungoy, Jr., was attacked and mauled by a group of illegal miners and laborers who were trying to smuggle hazardous chemicals and explosive devices, among others, in the company’s MPSA area in Balabag.

Jungoy, in defending himself from the attackers, shot Wilbert Catampungan, who later died.

Jungoy surrendered to the police after the shooting. TVIRD said it would not condone any form of violence and condoled with the family of Catampungan. It said the company is extending all necessary financial and other assistance to the Catampungan’s family.

Police said two other illegal miners were also wounded after a fire fight broke out between the attackers and security guards of the mining firm in Balabag.

“We are investigating the incident. There were witnesses who said that a fire fight broke out between the group of miners and security guards of the mining firm,” Inspector Errol Alejo, the town’s police chief, told the Mindanao Examiner.

“TVIRD never condones any form of violence. The matter is now in the hands of the police, local government, and other authorities as we await their final reports,” it said.

TVIRD has strongly denied Cruz’s allegations.

“We do not have pseudo organizations in our company; much less people whose responsibilities resemble that of ‘K9’ dogs. Instead, we have functional departments carrying out specifics tasks and duties for our operations and our sustainable development work for the communities and the environment,” said Yulo E. Perez, TVIRD’s Vice President for Operations and Chief Operating Officer.

Perez said that Jungoy, Jr. was a former small scale miner who is now employed by TVIRD. Jungoy is with the civilian team assigned to assist the Security Force Department in monitoring the entry of mining implements, hazardous chemicals, explosives and other illegal supplies into the TVIRD MPSA used by illegal miners.

Perez added that Jungoy, a native of Bayog town, is tasked to report and carry apprehended illegal mining equipment of illegal miners and to support tree-planting activities carried out by the SFD.

“The group of Catumpangan carried sacks of cyanide, blasting caps, illegal toxic chemicals, and diesel fuels. Police authorities and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources) personnel are tasked to apprehend illegal miners who smuggle these restricted materials inside TVIRD MPSA site. The laborers use these materials for their illegal mining operations,” Perez explained.

The TVIRD executive was deeply concerned by Cruz’s irresponsible statement which described Jungoy as a member of an illegitimate organization that does “dirty” works for the mining firm.

“Before issuing libellous statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines should have read the police report on the Balabag incident. They could have known that the suspect was just defending his life against his attackers and that the company does not condone criminal acts,” Perez said.

“We brought Jungoy to the police immediately after the incident. We did not hide him because we trust our law enforcers so justice can take its course. Instead of making irresponsible statements, authorities should stop these unprovoked acts of unlawful aggression,” he added.

The illegal miners in Balabag, many of whom are members of the local government unit of the town, have been operating in the area despite being outlawed by the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Mining Regulatory Board.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau also issued a Cease and Desist Order on April 13 this year, but in spite of these resolutions and orders, the illegal entry of explosives, cyanide, mercury, and other mining implements in Balabag continue unabated.

The Zamboanga del Sur provincial government and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have previously ordered a stop to all hazardous and illegal mining operations in Balabag, especially those involving the Monte de Oro Small Scale Miners Association.

Just early this month, the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Mineral Regulatory Board also issued a resolution denying an application to mine by Monte de Oro Small Scale Miners Association in Balabag.

Illegal miners have been operating in Balabag for more than a decade now and were largely blamed for the destruction of the mountain and environmental pollution in the town

“TVIRD is within its rights to ask the AFP and the PNP to enforce peace in the area,” Perez said.

TVIRD, an advocate of responsible mining, has been well accepted by indigenous tribes and locals in Zamboanga where it is now looking beyond the development of the Canatuan sulphide plant in the province to its second development-stage property and planned production center at the Balabag gold and silver project in Bayog town.

TVIRD has provided the indigenous peoples college scholarship program, school buildings and classrooms, and farm-to-market roads, coffee and rubber clones and seedlings for sustainable livelihood and employment, including a health facility that offers free consultation and admission of patients, among many others.

The mining firm has received various awards not only for its outstanding environmental protection and enhancement program, but also as a “model employer” in Zamboanga del Norte and in the Zamboanga Peninsula region.

Just recently, TVIRD was also awarded by the local government of Siocon in Zamboanga for its contribution to the town’s growing economy.

TVIRD is also a recipient of multiple awards from the Philippine government and leading mining industry associations. It was conferred a Platinum Achievement Award, Surface Mining Category, by the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award Selection Committee, composed of cabinet secretaries from five government departments and three line agencies led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as of officials from three industry organizations composed of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association, and the Philippine Mineral Exploration Association.

TVIRD was also named first runner-up in the Safest Mines Awards, Concentrator Category, by the PMSEA and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau; and third runner-up in the Mining Forest Award, Metallic Category, by the DENR.

It received the Department of Labor and Employment’s Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (Health and Safety Award). The national award is in recognition of outstanding achievements by establishments and individuals in responding to the safety and health needs of workers, workplaces and communities. The GKK seeks to encourage institutions/companies to implement their own safety, health and environment programs and, at the same time, achieve higher levels of productivity and zero accidents in the workplace.

The award is the first to be given to a safety practitioner in TVIRD’s operating region, taking first place over fifty-one other nominees in the country. The award is given every two years to the establishments, institutions and individuals, who advocate, uphold and sustain best safety and health practices. (Mindanao Examiner)