ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE – TVI Resource Development Philippines, Incorporated (TVIRD), appeals to the general public to be cautious of some special interest groups who are now spreading speculation to mislead the public into believing that the ambush of Barangay Captain Timuay Lucenio Manda of Barangay Canacon, Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur on Tuesday, September 4, is attributed to his being an staunch anti-mining advocate.
These are implying that legitimate mining companies present in the area, that include TVIRD, may have a hand in the ambush that resulted in his injury and the death of his 11-year old son.
The truth of the matter is that Timuay Manda survived the ambush and lived to clarify that he is not an anti-mining advocate but a Subanon leader who is against illegal mining in their ancestral domain in Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur.
In his first public appearance after the ambush attempt Friday, Manda issued a statement categorically denying all the slanted news articles by saying, “To set the record straight – I am not anti-mining. I am, instead, an anti-illegal mining advocate. I am a government official – a barangay chairman of Barangay Canacon, Bayog municipality, Province of Zamboanga del Sur – I swore to uphold the law. We have our laws in mining and other environmental laws.”
“While I appreciate the sympathy of some groups of what happened and their condemnation to the assailants, I cannot afford to make this matter as their avenue for expressing their anti-mining advocacy to which I do not subscribe,” Manda said in his signed statement.
Moreover, Manda appealed to President Aquino to stop illegal mining activities in the area. “Let this tragic incident be a wake-up call to all government officials concerned,” he added.
Atty. Eugene T. Mateo, TVIRD President, once more pleads to the law enforcers – the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army – to restore peace and order and let the rule of law prevail by applying the full force of the law in the said place.
“It is very tragic that atrocities continue to reign in the area. More tragic to see that most of the victims are the local and tribal leaders who are law-abiding citizens, and who are against all sorts of illegalities including illegal mining,” Mateo said. “We strongly condemn the brutal killing of an innocent child in their attempt to silence the father who only wanted peace and prosperity through legal means in their Subanon homeland,” Mateo added.
Timuay Manda is a Subanon Chieftain and a 2-term Barangay Chairman of Canacon, Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur.
On Tuesday, September 4, Timuay Manda and his son Jordan were riding on a motorcycle along Barangay Datagan when fired upon by unknown assailants. Manda was hit in the right shoulder while his son was hit in the head killing him instantly.
On April this year, three barangay officials of neighboring Barangay Depore were also gunned down killing Barangay Captain Francisco Arado and Barangay Secretary Editha Navarro while Councilman Ernesto Mancao survived. They were ambushed on their way home from a meeting with TVIRD officials. Until now, no suspect has ever been hailed to jail for the atrocity.
Part of Subanon ancestral domain in Bayog particularly in Sitio Balabag, is home to illegal miners who are financed and supported by a group led by identified government officials.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of Region 9 has since issued a Cease and Desist Order to stop all illegal mining activities in the area.
Also, the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) of Zamboanga del Sur, in a resolution, has denied the illegal miners of any legal right to mine in the place that is covered under a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement signed between the government and TVIRD. The said agreement has prior consent by the Subanon residents.
Lately, President Aquino has issued Executive Order No. 79, which ultimately gave more teeth to the orders of MGB and the PMRB.
However, despite of all these laws, illegal mining persisted in the area while the orders are still waiting to be enforced by the police authorities.
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