ALABEL, Sarangani Province, Philippines?Boxing champ-turned politician Manny Pacquiao said Saturday he has talked to at least two mayors in the province and asked them to pursue the campaign against illegal mining in their areas.
Pacquiao, who now represents Sarangani in the lower house of Congress, said he asked Mayor Elsie Perrett of Maitum and Kiamba Mayor Raul Martinez to stop illegal mining activities in their areas as he was against them.
The Inquirer learned that so far, only Perrett has acted on Pacquiao?s request.
A raid that Perrett ordered against illegal miners in her town on July 20 resulted in the arrest of at least 20 persons and the seizure of ore samples, chainsaws and mining equipment.
The suspects, who are currently detained at the Sarangani Provincial Jail, have already been charged in court for violations of the Philippine Mining Act, the Small-scale Mining Act and the Indigenous People?s Rights Act.
But Martin Barosa, one of the 20 accused, has identified Martinez as one of their financiers.
Martinez, a close political ally of Pacquiao, could not be reached for comment.
?I already talked to Mayor Martinez and Mayor Perrett and I told them that I am against mining,? Pacquiao said.
He said he told the two officials that mining should be stopped because of its adverse impact, not just on the lives of affected Indigenous tribes, but also on the environment.
?I told the two mayors to exert efforts to stop illegal mining activities in the mountains. I want to protect the environment. I don?t care even if the gold deposit in the mountains is high grade. What they are doing is illegal because they have no permit,? Pacquiao said.
The ring idol, who once headed the Task Force Luwas-Kinaiyahan (Save the Environment) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources during the stint of former Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, said Philippine experience has shown that environmental damage brought about by mining far outweighs the revenues it is contributing to government coffers.
Pacquiao also said he would do his best to block the plan to put up a 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant in the coastal town of Maasim.
Conal Holdings Corp., a company owned by the family of Governor Miguel Dominguez, will start the construction of the coal-fired power plant project this October.
Joseph Nocos, Conal Holdings executive vice president, assured the public that the company will comply with the requirements of the environmental laws.
Nocos also promised that the company will employ the latest technology to prevent harmful emissions.
