Brooke’s Point mayor urges voters to reject “pro-mining” local bets

Brooke’s Point town Mayor Jean Feliciano urged her constituents not to elect pro-mining barangay officials during the kick-off of nine-day campaign period on Friday. In a Facebook post, Mayor Feliciano particularly addressed the call to the residents of Barangays Maasin, Ipilan, Mambalot, Barong-Barong and Aribungos, which are covered by the mining operation of Ipilan Nickel Corporation (INC). “Ganito po ang ginawang paglalapastangan sa ating kalikasan ng Ipilan Nickel Corp,” wrote Feliciano. Her post includes photos of tree cutting activity done by the mining firm. Last July 2017, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) filed a criminal complaint against INC for its “massive indiscriminate tree cutting” despite the cancellation of its environmental compliance certificate. Feliciano claimed the cutting – using unlicensed chainsaws – included indigenous or endemic trees within the town’s natural forests, which is also part of their watershed. In February 2018, she led the demolition of INC’s facilities in Bgy. Maasin, citing her police powers and claiming that the company has no valid permits. “Nakikiusap po ako na wag po ninyong iboboto ang mga kandidatong kapitan at kagawad na sinusuportan ng mga minahan, at ‘ wag po kayong masisilaw sa salaping kanilang ipamimigay sapagkat ang kapalit nito ay ang pagkasira ng ating kabundukan, pagkatuyo ng ating mga ilog at dam, at gayundin ang ating kabuhayan at kinabukasan,” she added. Feliciano did not name the pro-mining candidates she was alluding to, saying local voters already know them. Asked if her stance on the election is not a violation of election rules, Feliciano said she was simply exercising her “freedom of expression.” “L ike libel? Against INC for saying they destroyed our forest? But it’s true . Those are the actual photos of the area where they illegally cut our indigenous trees. Or is it my campaigning not to vote the pro-mining candidates? That is freedom of expression?” Last week, INC filed criminal and administrative charges against Feliciano before the Ombudsman’s office, citing her alleged refusal to accept their occupational fee payment in connection with its Mineral Production Sha r ing Agreement (MPSA).