Mining Site Visit in Guisguis, Sta. Cruz, Zambales topples with
gunshots
(republishing, copying, no restrictions)
By: Father Shay Cullen
The community people of Guisguis, Sta. Cruz together with PREDA Human Rights Team set forth on April 19, 2007 for mining site visit in Binagbag, Barangay Guisguis, Sta. Cruz, Zambales, one of the many active mining sites in the said town. Prior to this a signature campaign was launched by the people of Guisguis, Guinabon and Lomboy on February 12, 2007 sent to PGMA, Vice President Noli de Castro, DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes being spearheaded by Danerio Mayo Mondala in relation to the mining activities at Binagbag/ Boteve located at Guinabon and Lomboy areas. This is in relation to their petition to stop/ castigation of mine people of Arcman mining. The same petition has been forwarded to the office of the town mayor Luisito Marty however they were left unheard. Despite the insensitivity of the government officials, the people of Guisguis then made coordination with PREDA Human Rights Team to join them in their protest against the mining firm currently operating in their area who is then allegedly ´with blessingˇ from the Office of the Governor and the Office of the Municipal Mayor who approved their mining permits.
The group of brave men being spearheaded by Raymundo
Mayo, together with 10 community people and two PREDA staff, Ferdie and
Gary (not their real names) started the day's journey through an
orientation about the mine site visit. Mayo then assured the group that
they are safe since they went to the site before however the photos they
had taken was not developed properly hence they were eager to go back in
the area to back up their sentiments against mining with actual photo
documentation of adverse effects of mining in their livelihood and
health. The PREDA team was assured that there's no armed men in the
vicinity of the mining area since the Barangay Captain knew about the
said mining activities.
Then the group started trekking to the mountain at the break of the
daylight and continued onwards, after passing through the river which is
connected to the mining area, they were able to peacefully enter into
the mining site at 11 in the morning and freely got all the angles they
needed for photodocumentation. There were clear evidences that mining is
ongoing through the presence of stock pile ready for hauling, heavy
equipment operating, soil excavated, dump truck entering the area to
haul minerals and fallen pine trees caused by soil excavation. Two big
backhoes were also seen in the area and bunkhouses of the workers.
After satisfactorily completing the materials needed for the photodocumentations, the group then decided to go back to the barangay. However, it was then that they heard several gunshots from a heavy fire arm. At first they thought they were warning shots to scare them away. More or less five to ten minutes after the gunshots were heard, a group of armed men in a private vehicle followed and began chasing the group with more various intervals of gunshots. Stunned, the group then could only wonder as whether the shots fired were aimed at them or not. With the surge of life's survival the group then made their own ways to hide to a safer haven. This lasted till 12 noon and in the middle of summer's heat, the group was then dispersed separately from each other and had no contact to determine their whereabouts. The hiding lasted for more than an hour. It was then that one of the PREDA staff Ferdie sought refuge and was able to communicate via cellphone amidst difficulty of signal in the area. What communication sent to PREDA Office in Olongapo is that the group needed help since they were already dispersed and they could no longer trace the other members of the team due to the fear of alarming gunshots.
The two PREDA staff, Ferdie and Gary went into separate ways. Luckily Ferdie was able to secure the cel phone while Gary was left alone in the mercy of gunshots. Gary has with him the digital camera and upon hearing footsteps going near in his hiding place, tremendous fear attacked him however he fervently prayed that the armed men would suddenly leave the area. While the others went into hiding, Ferdie then continued sending text message seeking for help, however when his cel phone suddenly beeps, the armed men were only 10 meters away in the bamboo area in which he tried to contort his body so he could not be seen. Breathlessly he tried to stop the sounds of the cellphone. Then after few minutes the armed men left the vicinity.
Upon learning that the PREDA staff sent to the mining site is in perilous situation, we then notified the other members of the PREDA Human Rights Team who was then conducting human rights education seminars in various barangays in Sta. Cruz. They responded accordingly and acted as communication point. Also we sought help from various personalities like Vice Governor Lacbain, Atty. Jun Pangan, former priest Larry Pangan and Larry Edano of the Office of the Governor. Coordination with Fr. Noel Montes, St. Michael Parish Priest in Sta. Cruz was made to possibly intervene and to coordinate with the local government officials. Also coordination was made with the Provincial Commander Col. Subong, then he sent Major Menor . Due to the insistence of the PREDA staff, the incident was then blottered.
Gary upon testing the water and confirming that it is safe to went out, he started walking and it lasted for about three hours before he reached the house of Brgy. Councilor Mediario. He sought for a glass of water and requested to send him to an area where he could take a ride. Councilor Mediario brought him in the tricycle terminal of Brgy. Guinabon, then they directly went in Sta. Cruz town. After that he went straight in their homebase in Brgy. Sabang. From there he made contact to other PREDA Human Rights Team and requested to be picked up in their homebase. While Ferdie continued communicating through text and call and then sought refuge and was later picked up as well by Fr. Montes.
After the peaceful interventions made, at 6PM in the afternoon, the group are then reunited and started traveling back to Olongapo at 7PM taking the route going to Pangasinan, passing Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Bataan.
The PREDA Foundation through its advocacy on environmental protection has been working actively together with the national anti large scale mining network towards sustainable development and adhere to the social doctrine of the church towards integrity of God's creation. The PREDA Team is closely monitoring the mining activities in the province most specifically in Cabangan and Palauig.
Zambales has been engaged in mining activities for
more than two decades and yet development could not be seen nor felt in
the table of poor farmers and fisherfolks. Many remained to be living in
a hand to mouth subsistence while very few families are lingering to the
vast resources of the province. Those who take a stand are oftentimes
ended in just one gunshot.
