Manila (UCAN): “They (government officials) really need the money for elections. And these big mining firms are the ones giving away the money in exchange for getting permits,” Bishop Broderick Pabillo said at a Mass on May 16, as he lamented the mid-April decision by the president, Rodrigo Duterte, to lift a moratorium on mining.
Bishop Pabillo, the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila said that the lifting of the ban was not for the benefit of the people, but was fuelled by a political agenda, linking the move to the national elections in 2022.
“In our current situation, it will not benefit the country but only a few,” he added.
Duterte lifted the nine-year moratorium on new mining agreements to purportedly boost the economy by creating jobs amid the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) crisis. He also claimed that taxes generated would support infrastructure projects across the country.
Bishop Pabillo pointed out, however, that by allowing new mining agreements, the government has also given the green light to environmental degradation including human rights abuses against Filipino workers.
‘Mining is one of the causes of the destruction of communities of indigenous peoples and the poor. We will see once again human rights violations and red-tagging of indigenous peoples, farmers, fishermen and environmentalists against mining’
Bishop Pabillo
“Mining is one of the causes of the destruction of communities of indigenous peoples and the poor. We will see once again human rights violations and red-tagging of indigenous peoples, farmers, fishermen and environmentalists against mining,” the bishop said.
Bishop Pabillo is a staunch advocate of indigenous peoples’ rights and caring for the environment.
In 2013, he launched an online campaign against the Philippines’ largest copper and gold mining corporation, calling on former president, Benigno Aquino, to investigate the mining firm and review mining concessions and requirements.
“We need someone like Bishop Pabillo who bravely fights for the rights of the poor and the unheard, particularly the indigenous peoples. If our bishops will not fight for the oppressed, who will?” Leonardo Harael, from Manila, said.
Harael said the bishop’s comments were also a reminder to Filipino Catholics to mark the anniversary of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical on protecting the environment, Laudato Si’.
“May our politicians be reminded to care for the environment so that it may be spared from abuse in order to generate profit for selfish gain,” he added.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Meanwhile, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, appealed to voters to be “very careful in choosing the next leaders” during a webinar for Laudato Sí Week on May 19, CBCPNewsreported.
“We can’t afford anymore to dilly-dally, there’s urgency. It’s not anymore a climate emergency, it’s already a climate crisis,” he said.
The archbishop said people should not allow their money to be used on something that will destroy the planet “and will deprive the next generation of a healthy environment”.
