Anti-mining Dipolog bishop says there is no 'sustainable' mining

MANILA, Philippines - A Catholic bishop based in Mindanao cried foul Thursday over local media reports claiming he has flip-flopped on mining and is now advocating "sustainable" mining in his diocese. Dipolog Bishop Jose Manguiran categorically denied the reports, saying that as far as he is concerned, there is no such thing as "sustainable" mining. "I categorically deny that and it's not true that I am in favor of sustainable mining because there's no such thing as sustainable or responsible mining as we have experienced throughout the world," he said in a statement posted Thursday night on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website. He maintained that mining destroys the environment as it displaces indigenous people. He also said mining destroys the food chain. Also, Manguiran said that this early, Filipino voters must listen to their consciences and vote for ecology-minded candidates in the coming 2010 polls. "Mining uses cyanide and mercury which cause pollution," he noted. In past weeks, Church and other pro-environment groups had aired their collective concern as the government hopes to bring a more aggressive mining industry in the coming months and years. Since 1999, Toronto Venture Incorporated (TVI) and its allies had allegedly and consistently harassed the affected communities who continue to oppose its operations due to the negative impact on the environment and human rights. On the other hand, Manguiran, Fr. Albert Bael and seven diocese personnel faced libel charges filed by one Juanito Tumangkis, who claims to be president of Siocon Subanon Association Inc (SSAI) and lawyer Pablo Bernardo. Both are associates of TVI Pacific. The Dipolog City Prosecutors' Office dismissed the libel suit after a few months, for lack of merit. - GMANews.TV