2014 Caraga Environment and Human Rights

Situation
Plundering Natural
Resources
Violating Human Rights
Declaring his administration as diferent from his predecessor, Noynoy Aquino
mouths respect for human rights, promises an end to poverty and calls the
Filipino people his Boss that his government will serve y following the daang
matuwid! "is administration however, is no diferent from that of #rs! Arroyo,
essentially merely continuing her government$s thrusts and programs! "is
regime continues to ofer the country$s mineral and agricultural resources for
foreign companies to plunder despite the people$s protests!
%araga &egion, declared y then 'resident (loria #acapagal)Arroyo as the mining
capital of Asia during the *++, Asia 'aci-c #ining %onference remains the main
target for mining under the Aquino administration! .ts rich and aundant
agricultural lands are also eing converted from rice lands into oil palm and
anana plantations! /housands of hectares of forest and agricultural lands are
open for e0ploitation y foreign usiness!

THE CARAGA REGION
/he %araga &egion is made up
of -ve 123 provinces, si0 143
cities, seventy)one 1,53
municipalities and 5,6+4
arangays! .t is situated in the
northeast section of #indanao!
.t is ounded on the north y
the Bohol 7ea8 on the south y
&egion 9.$s provinces of
%ompostela :alley and Davao
;riental8 on the west y &egion
9$s Bu<idnon and #isamis
;riental8 and on the east y the
'hilippine 7ea and the 'aci-c
;cean! .t has a total land area
5 | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
of 5,==>,4?, hectares, representing 4!6@ of the country$s total land area and
5=!2@ of #indanao!
.t is largely composed of mountainous areas and Aat and rolling lands! /he
Diwata mountain ranges divide the Agusan and 7urigao provinces and su)ranges
separate most of the lowlands along the 'aci-c coast!
/he most productive agricultural area is located along the Agusan &iver Basin! .t
is home to the famous Agusan #arsh which lies at the heart of Agusan Del 7ur!
Among the la<es in the region, Ba<e #ainit is the widest, covering eight
municipalitiesC Alegria, /uod, #ainit and 7ison in 7urigao Del Norte and /uay,
7antiago, Daonga and Eitcharao in Agusan Del Norte!
Rich In Natural Resources
Fith its rich farmlands, agriculture remains the main source of income of the
people of %araga with >2*,4++ hectares cultivated with rice, corn, coconut,
ananas, mango and root crops for local consumption!
/he rice marine resources and vast -shing grounds ma<es -shing the secondary
source of income for the people of %araga! /he region is one of the main sources
of marine products in #indanao with three of its provinces facing the 'aci-c
;cean!
,5!*@ of the total land area of the region is forested with its dipterocarp coverage
the third most e0tensive in the 'hilippines! .ts mountains is considered to e the
last astion of forest in the country!
According to the #ines G (eosciences Bureau 1#(B)DHN&3, %araga region has
the >
th
largest copper deposit, 6
rd
gold deposit, 2
th
nic<el and 4
th
chromite
deposits in the world! .t also has the world$s iggest iron ore deposit within the
mountains of the two 7urigao provinces! .t has the largest nic<el 1?!,6@3 and gold
155!5+@3 deposit in the country!
7urigao del 7ur, 7urigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte are the principal goldI
producing provinces in what is called the Baroo (old %orridor and the 7urigao
(old District! Deposits of metallurgical grade chromite are found in Dinagat
.sland! :ast nic<el laterites are found in 7urigao del Norte and e0tensive deposits
of aluminum au0ite are found in Bucas (rande .sland!
%oal, the country$s maJor lignite reserve, can e found in three of its provincesC
Agusan del 7ur, 7urigao del Norte and 7urigao del 7ur! /he iggest reserve of coal
is said to e found in Bislig and the Andap :alley %omple0 which covers the
municipalities of /andag,/ago, 7an #iguel, %agwait, #arihatag, 7an Agustin and
Bianga in 7urigao del 7ur!
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.ndustrial non)metallic minerals such as marle, aggregates, limestone for
cement and feldspar, among others, are also in aundance!
HEIGHTENED RAVAGING OF NATRA! RE"ORCE"
Logging
%araga &egion hosted the iggest logging concessions in the country in its
heyday! /hese include the 'aper .ndustries %orporation of the 'hilippines 1'.%;'3
in Bislig, 7urigao del 7ur which was once Asia$s iggest pulp and paper supplier!
/he now defunct Aras)asan /imer %ompany, .nc! 1A&/.#%;3 in %agwait, 7urigao
del 7ur, was once one of the largest suppliers of timer in the country while
Nasipit Bumer %ompany, .nc! 1NAB%;3 in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte was once one
of the longest)running logging companies in the country! 7urigao Development
%orporation 17KDH%;&3 continued its logging operations for decades until it has
temporarily stopped its operations in *+5+!
Because of such massive logging, the region$s forest cover has sustantially
decreased 1in *++6, it decreased y >2@ compared to 5?=,3 over the years! 7till,
massive depletion of forest cover continue in %araga, the last astion of forest
in the country! .t currently has = wood)ased companiesC DAEA Hquities, H#%;
'lywood %orporation, Knited Food, &ichmond 'lywood, Agusan 'lywood,
%asilayan 7oftwood, 'rovident /ree Farms and Foodland Domain .nc! 1FD.3!
.llegal logging activities particularly in the e0pired timer concession areas
continue inspite of the government$s an on the cutting of trees in natural and
residual forests 1H0ecutive ;rder No! *63!
Land Use Conversion/Plantations
Barge portions of the rich agricultural land of %araga has een converted into
industrial plantations! %araga has the largest land area planted with palm oil in
the country covering close to 52,+++ hectares! Filipinas 'alm 'lantation
.ncorporated 1F''.3 in Agusan del 7ur is one of the largest oil palm plantations in
#indanao and is currently e0panding its =,+++ hectare plantation! Agusan
'lantation .nc! 1A'.3 also in Agusan del 7ur occupies 4,?=,hectares!
.n 7urigao del 7ur, Dole)'hilippines has converted around ,++ hectares of
irrigated rice land in /ago into anana plantation, 56,+++ hectares in Baroo and
/agina! Dole 'hilippines has also e0panded to a further 6,+++ hectares in
%aadaran %ity and /uay in Agusan del Norte! 7umitomo Fruits 17K#.F&K3 has
55,+++ hectare anana plantation in /agina!
Mining
/he region$s mining resources have een e0tracted in various scales since the
preI"ispanic period, ut never has resource e0traction een as e0tensive or as
6 | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
destructive as the present! 7urigao del Norte nic<el was -rst e0ploited in 5?,2
and continued in ever)increasing scale to the present!
Knder the Noynoy Aquino government, local and foreign mining operations and
applications in the region has increased! At present, 52 of the country$s 65 largest
operating mines are in %aragaC 55 nic<el mines, * gold mines, 5 chromite mine
and 5 cement quarry! 7even 1,3 foreign largescale mining companies are directly
operating in %araga or are in partnership with domestic mining companies
operating in the region! (See Annex1
As of 7eptemer *+5* there are 22 e0isting #ineral 'roduction 7haring
Agreements 1#'7A3 in %araga covering #$%&%'( hectares or ,@ of the region$s
land area! /here are *2 e0isting H0ploration 'ermits 1H'3 covering >=,+++
hectares totaling 5,=,5,+ hectares! Adding to this is the 6> Applications for
'roduction 7haring Agreement 1A'7A3 covering '#&%($)'* hectares and =2
H0ploration 'ermit Applications 1H'A3 which covers +,(&%$-)%% hectares! (See
Annex 2
/he *2,+++ hectare Nonoc Nic<el 'roJect is currently under FeasiilityL Financing
7tage! A M5!2 illion investment to rehailitate the Nonoc #ining 'roJect has
allegedly een committed y %hinese company Dinchuan during Aqunio$s recent
trip to %hina! /he M*!5+,B 7umitomo /ag)anito "'AB 'roJect is set for full
operation in *+56!
/he Department of Hnergy 1D;H3 has included areas in %araga in its 'hilippine
Hnergy %ontracting &ound 1'H%&3 in *++2, *++4 and *++?! %oal loc<s in the
Andap :alley %omple0 in 7urigao del 7ur has een on ofer since *++2! /he
%omple0 covers the municipalities of /andag, /ago, %agwait, 7an Agustin,
#arihatag and Bianga in 7urigao del 7ur! ;fered in its 'H%& *++4 and *++? are
coal loc<s in Bislig, 7urigao del 7ur8 (igaguit in 7urigao del Norte, Eitcharao in
Agusan del Norte and Bunawan, /rento and
7iagat in Agusan del 7ur! Around ,+,+++
hectares of land has een contracted for
coal mining as of 7eptemer *++?!
Bast Dune 5? and *6, *+55, Aacus %oal
H0ploration and Development %orporation
1Aa%oal3 disclosed its shift to the
production and development phase for %oal
;perating %ontract No! 5>= covering , coal
loc<s or ,,+++ hectares within the
mountains of /ago and #arihatag, 7urigao
del 7ur!
.RO/EN PRO0I"E"
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Po1ert2 Incidence o3 Families 42
Region
Philippines
Region $,,+ $,,( $,,%
'hilippines *+ *5!5 *+!?
Caraga +5)( +()% +%)'
A&## *2 64!2 6=!5
&egion .9 >+!2 6>!* 64!4
&egion : 6= 64!5 64
&egion :... 6+!* 65!5 66!*
&egion 9 >5!2 6*!> 6*!,
&egion :.. 6*!5 66!2 6+!*
&egion 9.. *,!* *,!5 *=!5
&egion .:)B *?!= 6>!6 *,!4
&egion 9. *2!> *4!* *2!4
&egion :. *6!2 **!5 *6!=
&egion . 5,!= *+!> 5,!=
%A& 54!5 5=!4 5,!5
&egion .. 52!* 52!2 5>!2
&egion ... ?!> 5* 5*
&egion .:)A ?!* ?!> 5+!6
N%& *!5 6!> *!4

.t has always een pronounced y the government that foreign investments in the
mining industry and plantations will ring development and alleviate poverty!
"owever, despite the increase in mining operations and e0panding plantations,
%araga remains the poorest among 'hilippine regions at 6?!=@ poverty incidence!
/wo 1*3 of its provincesC Agusan Del 7ur and 7urigao del Norte, are included
among the top ten poorest provinces in the country in *++? 1N7%B3! .ronically
oth provinces have the longest operating mines in the region with #edusa)
'hilsaga in Agusan del 7ur and the three 163 Nic<el Asia %orp! 1NA%3 minesC /ag)
anito #ining %orp!, %agdianao #ining %orp! and "inatuan #ining %orp! operating
in 7urigao del Norte! Filipinas 'alm ;il 'lantation 1F''.3 and Agusan 'lantations,
.nc! 1A'.3 have also een operating since the =+$s in Agusan del 7ur!
/he reality is that the mining industry has not provided stale and e0tensive
employment! #ost wor<ers in the mining industry are employed y contractual
asis, most for only nine 1?3 months N the length y which mining operations run!
Dos availale for Filipinos and residents of mining communities are for s<illed
wor<ers li<e heavy equipment operators and drivers, mechanics, electricians,
welders and other support services such as oOce staf, production cler<s and
laor force! /he rest of the year, they have to loo< for other employment and
sources of income!
/he destruction of the environment rought
aout y mining deprives the peasants of
their once fertile land, the small -sherfol< of
their livelihood and has displaced thousands
from their homes and farmlands! Bandslides
and AashAoods in the region resulted in the
decrease in rice and corn production, halted
economic activities ecause of impassale
roads and destruction of small usinesses!
#eanwhile, farmers and their families are
driven out of their farmlands y foreign
owned plantations depriving them of source
of livelihood! /he once fertile farm lands that
produced food for local consumption are
planted with crops for e0port!
!ARGE6"CA!E ENVIRON0ENTA! DEGRADATION
/wenty)si0 1*43 were reported dead in %araga y the ND&&#% during the Danuary
*+55 Aash Aoods which afected ,4,+,= families in the region! Damage to
agriculture amounted to ' 56 million while damage to infrastructure reached
',*!4 million 1!"A Ne#s $nline %anuar& ', 20113! &oads were impassale which
suspended the region$s economy for more than * days! %araga is perennially
threatened y landslides and AashAoods during the rainy season!
2 | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
Annual Per (apita Po)ert& *hreshold,
Po)ert& +ncidence and "agnitude o, Poor
Population, -& Region and Pro)ince. 200/
(NS(0
PROVINCE" POVERT7
INCIDENCE
5! Pamoanga del
Norte
>4!+@
*! Agusan del 7ur >6!2@
6! 7urigao del Norte >6!5@
>! Hastern 7amar 6,!4@
2! #aguindanao 6,!,@
4! Pamoanga
7iugay
62!>@
,! &omlon 64!6@
=! #asate 64!4@
?! Davao ;riental 64!5@
5+! Northern 7amar 6*!>@
/he contamination of potale water sources, poisoning of the air, water and soil,
siltation of the coastline and natural waterways and degradation of neary -shing
grounds, destruction of haitats and decrease in iodiversity are among the
indisputale impact of mining on the human and ecological environment!
/wo of #indanao$s most e0tensive mangrove forests in %arrascal, 7urigao del 7ur
and Del %armen, 7urigao del Norte are dying ecause of siltation from the mining
areas!
INTEN"IF7ING 0I!ITARI8ATION& 9OR"ENING H0AN RIGHT" VIO!ATION"
/he people of %araga are resisting the plunder and destruction of its natural
resources ))) their main and sustainale source of livelihood! Because of strong
and organiQed grassroots struggles, the region has een named a priority area of
government$s counter)insurgency plans aimed at easing the entry and ensuring
the continuation of foreign resource e0traction!
/he human rights record in %araga, under Aquino$s ;plan Bayanihan, is on the
way to surpassing that of the Arroyo Administration! ;plan Bayanihan is ut the
same internal security campaign with its deceptive and militarist character! ;plan
Bayanihan has deployed %ommunity ;rganiQing for 'eace and Development
1%;'D3 teams to lumad 1#indanao indigenous peoples3 and peasant communities
targeted for mining under the guise of counter)insurgency campaigns! 'res!
Aquino has ordered the strengthening of Arroyo$s investment security forces,
deploying hundreds of these to investment intensive areas to secure mining
and other foreign interests, quell the people$s struggle to protect their land and
their rights against such destructive operations and ensuring the unhampered
e0ploitation of 'hilippine resources y foreign companies!
%urrently, nine 1?3 full Battalions of the 'hilippine Army are deployed and
distriuted all over the %araga region! /hey are the *4th, *?th, 6+th, 64th and
,2th infantry attalions under the >
th
.nfantry Division of the AF' and the 5
st
and
*
nd
7cout &anger Batallions and *
nd
and 6
rd
7pecial Forces Batallion under the
7pecial ;perations %ommand of the AF'! /hese are complemented y various
other military units li<e test missions of the 7cout &angers, #ilitary .ntelligence,
/actical ;perations (roup 1/;(3 and &econnaissance %ompany! Aside from these,
there are also * .nfantry Brigades, namely the >+*
nd
.nfantry Brigade whose main
headquarters is located in Bancasi, Butuan %ity, Agusan del Norte and the >+5
st

.nfantry Brigade in New Beyte, 'rosperidad, Agusan del 7ur!
Aside from the local units of the 'hilippine National 'olice assigned in each city
municipality, their operations are reinforced y igger units of the &egional and
'rovincial 7afety #anagement Batallion 1&7#B and '7#B3, formerly <nown as the
&egional and 'rovincial #oile (roups 1&#( and '#(3! 'olice presence is also
4 | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
eefed up y units of 7pecial Action Forces whose operations are directly under
the national command of the 'N'!
/he presence of private armies and paramilitary troops are also causing much
concern from the people of %araga who are often caught in the middle of the
warring forces! /hese include the /as< Force (antangan)Bagani Force 1/F()BF3,
Fild DogsL7ala<awan, %ivilian Armed Forces (eographical Knits 1%AF(K3, 7pecial
%ivilian Armed Au0iliary 17%AA3, 7pecial %AF(K Active Au0iliary 17%AA3, %ivilian
:olunteers ;perations, 1%:;3, Barangay .ntelligence Networ< 1B.N3, Bantay
Bayan, Bantay 'uro< that comprise the Barangay Defense 7ystem 1BD73!
/he increased deployment of military and paramilitary forces and their cyclic
military operations have resulted in the commission of various grave human
rights violations against the people and afecting whole communities!
Attac:ing Communities
Fithin days of Aquino$s assumption of the presidency in *+5+, military operations
in the mountain areas of 7urigao del 7ur spurred the forcile evacuation of
peasant communities in the municipalities of #arihatag and 7an Agustin,
afecting over *++ families with aout 5,6++ individuals, including women and
children! 7uch military operations continue in an almost cyclic regularity in these
areas since then!
May 20 2011! Hvacuation of ?+ #amanwa and peasant settler familiesL>+2
individuals from 7itio Papanta, Brgy! Bangayan, Eitcharao, Agusan del Norte!
Se"tem#er 1 2011! 5+4 residents of Ansili and Papanta :alley of Brgy!
Bangayan, Eitcharao, Agusan del Norte were again dislocated due to the ongoing
military operations of the >+*
nd
.D and 6+
th
.B 'A on the same communities!
, | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
E;I"TING 0P"A IN 0I!ITARI8ED AREA" in
AG"AN6"RIGAO NORTE AND "RIGAO DE! "R
as o3 0arch +#& $,#$
O<ners o3
0ineral Production "haring
Agreement
!OCATION
5! 7urigao .ntegrated &esources
%orp!
%laver, 7urigao del Norte
*! %arac)an Development %orp!
%arrascal and %antilan, 7urigao
del 7ur
6! #arcventures #ining and
Development %orporation
%antilan, 7urigao del 7ur
>! %!/!' %onstruction and
#ining %orp!
%arrascal , 7urigao del 7ur
2! Hstrella F! Bautista #ainit, 7urigao del Norte
4! Deotrepis #! Bautista Alegria, 7urigao del Norte
,! 'aci-c %ement %o!, .nc! /rinidad, 7urigao %ity
=! %laver #ineral Devt! %orp! %laver, 7urigao del Norte
?! Basiana #ining H0ploration
%orp!
7antiago, Agusan del Norte
5+! #inima0 #ineral H0pl! %orp!
Daonga, 7antiago G /uay,
Agusan Norte
55! 'hile0 #ining %orporation
7urigao %ity and 7ison and 'lacer,
7urigao Del Norte
5*! 7ilangan #indanao #ining
%o!, .nc!
#ainit and 'lacer, 7urigao Del
Norte
56! %/' %onstruction and #ining
%orp!
%arrascal, 7urigao Del 7ur
5>! %oncordia &! Blave
Daonga and 7antiago, Agusan
Del Norte
52! (reenstone &esources %orp!
Alegria, #ainit, /uod and Bacuag,
7urigao Del Norte
54! 'higold #etallic ;re, .nc Boroo, 7urigao Del 7ur
5,! %arrascal Nic<el %orp! %arrascal, 7urigao del Norte
5=! Budgoron #ining %orporation
'antu<an, %arrascal, 7urigao del
7ur
5?! #anila #ining %orp! 'lacer, 7urigao del 7ur
*+! Adnama #ining &esources,
.nc!
%laver, 7urigao del Norte
*5! 7& #etals, .nc! /uay, Agusan del Norte
**! /aganito #ining %orporation %laver, 7urigao del Norte
*6! (reenstone &esources %orp!
7urigao %ity, 7ison G /agana)an,
"urrounding /itcharao
are the munici=alities in
Agusan and "urigao del
Norte targeted 3or nic:el
and gold mining along
<ith the "umitomo Tag6
anito6HPA! =lant in
Cla1er& "urigao del Norte)
The !o=e>6o<ned
com=an2 First Gen H2dro
Po<er Cor=oration is set
to 4uild a h2dro =o<er
=lant utili>ing the ri1ers
that ?o< in the
mountains o3 the +
neigh4oring
munici=alities o3
@a4onga& "antiago and
/itcharao)
May $ 2011! Hvacuation of
5>5 familiesL22+ individuals
from Brgy! #ahaa,
#arihatag, 7urigao del 7ur
and the evacuation of **
families from Brgy! Buhisan,
7an Agustin, 7urigao del 7ur!
%une 2& 2011! Hvacuation
of ,, families from
#ag<ahunao and Kpper
Danipaan in Brgy! Buhisan,
7an Agustin, 7urigao del 7ur
.rg2) 0aha4a in 0arihatag is the door<a2 to the Anda= Valle2 Com=leA B
targeted 3or coal mining <hile @ani=aan and 0ag:ahunao o3 .rg2)
.uhisan& "an Agustin are adCacent communities)
/he recent order of 'resident Aquino to strengthen security for mining companies
and target areas for mining has resulted to another round of comat operations
starting last Danuary of *+5*! .n Feruary to #arch *+5* there were airstri<es and
indiscriminate omings in lumad and peasant communities ordering the
Agusan del Norte, 7urigao del Norte and 7urigao del 7ur provinces! AF' units
operating in these communities are the 6+
th
and 6=
th
.B'A, 6
rd
7pecial Forces of
the >+*
nd
Bde, >
th
.D!
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E;I"TING EPs IN 0I!ITARI8ED AREA" in
AG"AN6"RIGAO NORTE AND "RIGAOD E! "R
as o3 0arch +#& $,#$
PER0ITTEE !OCATION
5! #anila #ining %orporation
/uod, Bacuag, 'lacer, #ainit
and 7ison, 7urigao del Norte
*! #inima0 #ineral H0plo!
%orp!
#alimono and #ainit, 7urigao
Norte
6! #inima0 #ineral H0plo!
%orp!
#ainit, 7urigao del Norte
>! Hstrella F! Bautista 7antiago, Agusan del Norte
2! Ninety Niners
Development %orp!
;fshore of #alimono, 7urigao
Norte
4! #&B (old 'hils!, .nc! #alimono, 7urigao del Norte
,! Ealayaan %opper)(old
&esources, .nc!
/uod and 'lacer, 7urigao del
Norte
=! 7H#%; H0plo G #ining
%orp!
%aadaran and /uay,
Daonga and 7antiago Agusan
Norte
Daonga and Eitcharao, Agusan
/hese recent spate of comat operations has resulted to the dislocation of *?,
families with 5,5+4 individuals from 5+ mountain communities in Eitcharao and
%aadaran %ity, Agusan del Norte and Alegria and (igaquit, 7urigao del Norte!
'e#ruary & 2012. =+ soldiers of the 6+
th
.B'A and 6=
th
.B'A led y Bt! :incent
.ringan arrived in Ferlda, Alegria, 7urigao del Norte! /hey encamped in the
Barangay "all, 7ession "all, (uest "ouse, Dancing "all and houses of civilians!
'e#ruary 1( 2012D .ndiscriminate -ring of a surprised soldier sleeping in a
hammoc< at the house of
Feli0 'aclipan in Ferlda,
Alegria, riddling the walls
and <itchen utensils with
ullets! 5+ families
evacuated!
'e#ruary 2) 2012!
#ilitary men gathered and
Joined the remaining
residents of Ferlda! Fearful
for their lives residents
decided to evacuate! /he
soldiers went with the
evacuees and placed
themselves in the middle of
the civilians during the hi<e!
Mar*h $ 2012. Hight 1=3 oms were dropped in the communities of Papanta
and #anhumapay, Brgy! Bangayan, Eitcharao8 Busong, Brgy! 'uting Bato ug
'alidan, Brgy! #ahaa, %aadaran %ity! /hese were followed y indiscriminate
-ring aout 6++)>++ meters away from communities! ;n the ne0t day -ghter
planes and helicopters were circling the same communities!

Mar*h ( 2012C #ilitary men entered Papanta! (un-res were heard! /he
residents evacuated!
Mar*h 2+ 2012! 6 lumad)#amanwas gathering wood to sell were -red upon y
operating soldiers in 7itio ;mao, Brgy! %amam)onan, (igaquit! ;ne was hit!
Mar*h 20 2012! Hvacuation of residents four days after around 5*+ soldiers
arrived in Bosong, Brgy! 'uting Bato, %aadaran %ity!
%anuary to Mar*h 201+C .n the lead up to the #ay *+56 elections, widespread
civil)military operations in the guise of community census, medical missions,
meetingsLassemlies and civic wor<s were conducted y the various units of the
? | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
AF' in the %araga region, targetting communities with alleged sightings of N'A
presence and strong support for the revolutionary movement! Focus of %;'d
Mar*h $ , 20 201+C Despite the upcoming elections, active military operations
were conducted y the 6
rd
7pecial Forces in 7itio /ag<iling, Brgy! Anticala, Butuan
%ity! ;n #arch 4, *+> families with aout 42+ individuals were forcily evacuated
to the /ag<iling Hlementary 7chool after an armed encounter etween the
operating troops and the N'A resulted in hot pursuit operations!
Mar*h 2( 201+! .n the dawn hours of (ood Friday, during the annual 'anaad
17tations of the %ross3 from 7itio .yao to 7itio #ahayahay in Brgy! Anticala, Butuan
%ity, elements of the 6
rd
7pecial Forces staged a shootout in the middle of the
procession claiming an N'A attac<! /he incident resulted in the <illing two %AF(K
elements, Ariel Anduhuyan and Hrnie Darasin! Bater investigation in the site and
eyewitness testimonies showed inconsistent -ndings, raising questions regarding
the veracity of the alleged encounter and the role of the 6
rd
7FB in staging the
incident that endangered the lives of thousands of civilians in the site at the time!
Threat and Harassment o3 Communit2 !eaders
As part of its new .nternal 'eace and 7ecurity 'rogram named ;plan Bayanihan
in Danuary *+55, the AF' launched a series of operations principally in mining
communities, conducting community assemlies, census, community patrols and
home visits! Areas of concentration were notaly communities where protests
against the incursion of large)scale commercial mining in mountain areas and
plantations were most active! Beaders and memers of community organiQations
were invited for friendly interrogations in military camps, which were later
threatened, harassed and vili-ed as memers andLor supporters of the New
'eople$s Army 1N'A3! ;thers were listed as respondents in complaints against
the N'A that were -led in court!
'resently, over =+ civilians, mostly memers of peasant and Bumad organiQations
are facing faricated criminal charges ranging from grave arson and malicious
mischief to multiple murder and frustrated murder!
H0amples of these cases in %araga include the harassment case of #anoo
leaders Dalandoni %ampos and (enasque HnriqueQ, who were accused of having
lin<s with the New 'eoples Army in the trumped)up charges -led against them! A
warrant of arrest was issued for Dalandoni %ampos, chair of the #alahutayong
'a<igisog alang sa 7umunsunod 1#A'A7K3 people$s organiQation, who was
among those charged with reellion and malicious mischief in connection with the
April *=, *+55 N'A raid of the Bianga municipal police station! "e was illegally
arrested on #arch *6, *+56, several wee<s efore the national elections as he
was campaigning on commercial radio for the EA/&.BK partylist! "e was released
within > days after a strong mass protest of the #anoo memers of #A'A7K
against his arrest! (enasque HnriqueQ, 7ecretary (eneral of the Eahugpongan sa
5+ | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
Bumadnong ;rganisasyon 1EA7AB;3 and the second nominee of the Eatriu
'artylist, was charged with multiple frustrated murder, in connection with the Duly
*5 clash etween N'A reels and soldiers of the 55th 7pecial Action %ompany,
7pecial Action Force and the ,2th .nfantry Battalion in Em! =, 7itio Agpan, Bgy!
.melda, Bunawan, Agusan del 7ur! /his complaint was later dropped y the ;Oce
of the 'rosecutor for lac< of merit! Another Bumad leader, &omulo Andaya,
chairperson of 'igdiwatahan, the municipal #anoo organiQation of Ba 'aQ,
Agusan del 7ur, was charged with arson!
;n Duly *6, *+56, Hustiquio Bulat)ag, an active memer of the farmer organiQation
Knyon sa #ga #ag)uuma sa Agusan del Norte 1K#AN3 and a <nown resident of
Brgy! Bit)os, Butuan %ity, was arrested on charges of murder and frustrated
murder in relation to an N'A attac< in their arangay on August 4, *+5*! Armando
/oreta, 24 years also, also an active memer of K#AN in the neighoring
arangay of 7an :icente, Butuan %ity, was arrested on Feruary *2, *+5> for his
alleged involvement in the same case! K#AN is <nown as a militant and
progressive people$s organiQation that is active in campaigns for the increase in
the prices of copra, lowering of interest rates in agricultural loans, decrease in
land rentals and increase in farm wor<ers$ wages in the province!
Knale to silence the pulic outcry against large)scale mining and plantations,
7tate security forces with its armed paramilitary forces along with private security
forces and armed goons of ig companies, have resorted to the e0traJudicial
<illing of Bumad leaders and memers of progressive organiQation and other
environment advocates!
Enown memers of the paramilitary group, 7pecial %AF(K Au0iliary Action 17%AA3
allegedly <illed Datu Arpe Belayong, a "igaonon chieftain and his rother)in)law
7olte 7an)ogan on Dune 6+, *+55 in HsperanQa, Agusan del 7ur! Bocal armed goons
called 7ala<awan 1formerly Fild Dogs3 associated with a local politician were also
said to e involved in the <illings! /wo of his children, ages ? and > years old,
were wounded during the incident! Datu Arpe Belayong was the nephew of
another victim of e0traJudicial <illing, Datu #ampaagi Belayong, founding
chairperson of "igaonon organiQation Binundigan, who was <illed in *++? y
<nown memers of the Fild Dogs! Binundigan is an organiQation that was active
in the campaign against the e0pansion of palm oil plantation and incursion of
large)scale mining in the ancestral domain of the trie in the mountains of
HsperanQa in Agusan del 7ur and Bas Nieves, Butuan %ity, Buenavista, Nasipit and
%armen in Agusan del Norte!
(eraldine 'aia, *6 years old, who assisted the Bumad evacuees from 7itio
Busong, Brgy! 'uting Bato, %aadaran, Agusan del Norte during their #arch *+5*
evacuation, was <illed in her home y <nown memers of the %AF(K on Dune 5,
*+5* in front of her daughter, -ve years old, and three of her sisters)in)law, all
minors ranging in age from ? to 54 years old!
55 | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
(enesis Amason, *6 years old, was <illed on 7eptemer 56, *+5*, while resting
near a military detachment in Brgy! Binicalan, 7an Buis, Agusan del 7ur! "e was
tortured after eing shot prior to his death! "e was the 7ecretary (eneral of
/agdumahan, the municipal organiQation of the Banwaon trie in 7an Buis that
was among the most active organiQations that promoted Bumad rights against
private mining and logging concessions! "is eighteen)year)old wife who was eight
months pregnant at the time of his death survived him! Amason is the second
victim of e0traJudicial <illing from /agdumahan! #emers of the %AF(K <illed past
/agdumahan %hairperson Aladino Datu #ansuayay Badaran, on 7eptemer
*=, *++?!
;n Danuary 65, *+5>, Datu &olando Amongan, 6? years old, a local leader of the
"igaonon trie in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, was <illed y elements of the
paramilitary group led y Hddie Eomander Bawang Ampiawan, also a <nown
memer of the %AF(K! ;n the day efore the incident, in a meeting of the
'igawangan trial leaders, Eomander Bawang threatened retriution towards
Datu &olando who refused to sign his consent to allow a largescale mining
company to operate within their %AD/ claim! Eomander Bawang is also <nown to
have een involved in the <illing of Datu #ampaagi Belayong in *++?, Arpe
Belayong and 7olte 7an)ogan in *+55!
Attac: against schools
.n a country where pulic schools are inaccessile to many remote communities,
non)government service organiQations and religious institutions have uilt and
developed literacy)numeracy schools to alleviate the prolems resulting from
government neglect in the education sector! /hese schools have recently een
under threat mainly y military campaigns targeting communist reels who are
said to e operating in remote areas where Bumad reside!
7tudents and teachers of the non)formal agricultural high school, the Alternative
Bearning %enter for Agricultural and Bivelihood Development 1AB%ADH:3, have
repeatedly evacuated due to military operations, only to return to their school and
-nd their crops destroyed, animals missing and classrooms ransac<ed!
7ince *++4, the primary literacy schools of the /rial Filipino 'rogram of 7urigao
del 7ur 1/&.F'773 and the Alternative Bearning %enter for Agricultural
Development 1AB%ADH:3 in Bianga, 7urigao del 7ur, have een actively vili-ed as
N'A schools! /&.F'77 is present in 52 communities with over 5,5++ students!
.n #ay *++2, school grounds ecame an instant landing pad for Army helicopters
during their military operations that resulted in massive forced evacuation of over
5? communities under #A'A7K!
/he aftermath of military operations that resulted in forced evacuations in *++2,
*++, and *++? left most schools and teachers$ cottages in chaos and vandaliQed,
5* | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
with malicious graOti written on the lac<oard, oo<s and school supplies torn
and strewn on the ground!
;n #arch *+5+, soldiers conducting military operations used the "an)ayan
'rimary /rial 7chool in Brgy! Diatagon as arrac<s! .n full)attle gear, aout 52
soldiers from the *?th .B'A entered the school grounds and used the classrooms
for their overnight stay! /hey used some of the school materials as -rewood!
/he &ural #issionaries of the 'hilippines Northern #indanao 1&#')N#3 is also
suJected to intrigues and lies to intimidate them into leaving the remote
communities that they served! /he e0traJudicial <illing of Datu #ampaagi and
Datu Arpe Belayong occurred after a series of coordination meetings with the
local government unit 1B(K3 oOcials of HsperanQa, Agusan del 7ur!
56 | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
The Peo=le Continue to "truggle 3or their Rights
Despite eforts to silence protests and eliminate resistance against the plunder of
the region$s natural resources, the people of %araga, especially the farmers and
lumad people continue to assert thier rights! 'eople$s organiQations are thriving
and in ever increasing numer, they continue to demand that their rights and
eforts to etter themselves are respected!
Resources.
11 N23A4Strategic 3e)elopment 5rame#or6 201042020
21 32NR4"!0. *enement "ap Septem-er 2012
71 PN$( (oal areas on $8er
41 (ham-er o, "ines4(araga Region (http.99###1cham-ero,minescaraga1org9
:1 (araga ;atch. "ining (araga, 200/, 2011, 2012
'1 <asalo. *he *ruth 0ehind the "ilitar& $perations in Surigao del Sur. (learing the ;a& ,or (oal
"ining, %une 2011
,! Search ,or +nno)ati)e Philippine Human Rights +nitiati)es, An $utcome 3ocument, APRN =
<aSa"a, 201
Annex 1
'oreign Mining Com"anies -n Caraga
#) Anglo American E/F
"as a Joint venture with local -rm PhileA 0ining Cor=! in the Boyongan
%opper 'roJect at the oundaries of "urigao del Norte and Agusan del
Norte!
"as Joint venture proJect with 0anila 0ining Cor=) for the Bayugo (oldI
%opper 'roJect I and the Ealayaan 'roJect, in "urigao del Norte!
"as 5* pending applications for e0ploration permits, seven in the 7urigao
and Agusan Norte areas!
$) .HP .illiton EAustraliaF
.s one of the iggest uyers of nic<el in the 'hilippines!
.t has a purchasing agreement with 'latinum (roup #etals %orp! 1'(#%3,
which operates two nic<el mines in 7urigao Norte and .saela!
.t collaorated with RN. 'hilippines in *++*, which made a Joint venture
agreement with Asiaticus #anagement %orporation 1Amcor3 over the 'uJada
mining proJect in Davao ;riental!
+) Red - !imited EAustraliaF
"as ?+@ ene-cial interest in the "iana Gold ProCect! /he proJect covers
an area of appro0imately 66 square <ilometers focused around the 7iana
(old #ine in the estalished gold mining region of "urigao del Norte)
(reenstone &esource %orporation is its local susidiary in the 7iana (old
'roJect that too< over the 7urigao %onsolidated #ines site in 7iana, 7urigao
del Norte! .ts gold mining operation will start this year!
5> | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
.t has over 5,,++ shareholders including Anglo(old Ashanti Australia
Bimited with 5+@ share!
*) 0edusa 0ining !imited EAustraliaF
;wns the #indanao #ineral 'rocessing and &e-ning %orporation 1##'&%3
which is in charge of the Bananghilig and %oI; mines in the Baroo (old
%orridor in .aro4o& "urigao del "ur!
##'&% is involved in small scale mining and organiQing mining
cooperatives! .t also operates the Das)agan 'roJect in the Bingig %opper
Discovery!
.ts susidiary, Philsaga 0ining Cor=oration 1'hilsaga3 operates the
/amis 'roJect, comprising the Bananghilig and Eamarangan prospects with
PhileA Gold Phili==ines Inc! with an #'7A covering 4,*4* hectares of
land in Baroo, 7urigao del 7ur!
.t has Doint :enture Agreements 1D:A3 with 0R! Phili==ines to mine areas
in the "urigao Agusan del Norte areas and Bunawan #ining %orporation
in Agusan del "ur along with a memorandum of agreement with Aacus
%onsolidated &esources and "oldings .nc! for e0ploration of =,5++ hectares
in Agusan del "ur!
-) 0indoro Resources !td) ECanadaF
.s a %anadian company that organiQes smallIscale mining cooperatives!
.ts 'hilippine susidiary is #&B (old 'hilippines .nc! manages the Agata and
/apian 7an Francisco #ining 'roJects which covers , areas for copper, nic<el
and gold mining!
/he Agata and /apian 7an Francisco 'roJects are situated in the 7urigao
(old District in "urigao del Norte!
/he mining areas of &ed 2 Bimited and #indoro &esources Btd! surrounds
Ba<e #ainit, the 'hilippine$s >th largest la<e!
() "emco EA=loration And 0ining Co) E/F
.s BritishIowned and has e0ploration permits for copper and gold in close to
*,+++ hectares in Ca4ad4aran and Tu4a2& Agusan del Norte
H0ploration permit for its 'a<uan 'roperty of covers 5+,+++ hectares at
Pa:uan& Cantilan& "urigao "ur)
,! Centur2 Pea: 0etals Holdings Cor=oration EChinaF
;wns %entury 'ea< %orp! 1%'%3, the nic<el mining company operating in
!oreto& Dinagat Islands and %entury "ua (uang 7melting .nc!
%entury "ua (uang 7melting .nc! is a Joint venture of %'#"% with the
owners of PheJiang "ua (uang, a privatelyIowned %hinese corporation and
one of the largest nic<el pig iron producers in %hina, to estalish a last
furnace facility in the 'hilippines with the purpose of producing nic<el pig
iron!
.//E0 2! /enement #ap of %araga 7eptemer *+56
52 | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014
54 | Plundering Natural Resources, Violating Human Rights 2014