http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/july/24/yehey/prov/20060724pro2.html
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=45252
By RHAYDZ B. BARCIA

LEGAZPI CITY - Barely three weeks after Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes approved the 30-day test run of the Rapu-Rapu mine in Albay, Lafayette Philippines Inc. officials on Sunday decried the alleged sabotage committed by unidentified persons on the mining site.

The lawyer Julito Sarmiento, Lafayette corporate secretary and spokesman, complained of harassment after they discovered spilled pesticide at a creek near the mine.

Sarmiento said they received text messages accusing the mining firm of spilling mine tailings from a pipe that burst on Friday into the Albay Bay off Barangay Pagcolbon.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources closed down the mine in December after leaks from one of its pipes spilled mine tailings twice, harming the livelihood of small fishermen in the surrounding area.

Fr. Felino Bogauisan, Santa Florentina parish priest based on Rapu-Rapu Island, disputed Sarmiento’s account.

Bogauisan said that he had no knowledge over the reported toxic spillage on Thursday, although he was told by former Lafayette workers that an old stock of toxic waste that may have dripped into the creek could be the reason for the latest killing of fish in the area.

Bogauisan added that he arrived late Thursday from Manila to file an injunction with the Makati lower court to stop the test run.

Earlier, Bishop Jesus Varela, bishop emeritus of Sorsogon, said the new Filipino management must be given a chance to conduct “responsible mining.”