The Alyansa Tigil Mina Blog

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200607259903.htm
The Philippine Star 07/25/2006

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes is scheduled to visit a remote mineral-rich village here following reports of mercury contamination in the area believed to have been caused by the unabated illegal small-scale mining operations.

Reyes’ planned visit was prompted by persistent reports of continued operations of small-scale miners utilizing deadly substances and unregulated explosives in the indigenous peoples-dominated Barangay Didipio, which lies in the mountain boundary of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. (more…)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2006/07/25/news/private.miner.dies.in.balatoc.mines.html

AN UNDERGROUND miner reportedly died of gas suffocation after he allegedly insisted on entering a drain portal tunnel of Benguet Corporation located in Balatoc, Virac, Itogon, Benguet, despite a warning from his companions last week.
However, a report of this incident was not disclosed immediately because those concerned only allegedly reported it to the police much later.

The victim in this case was identified in a belated report yesterday by Chief Superintendent Raul Gonzales, director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, as Roynaldo Lewis, 30, married and a resident of Balatoc, Virac, Itogon, Benguet. He reportedly worked as a private miner under Pines Green Gold Mining contracted by a certain Joseph Sibayan. (more…)

http://www.bulatlat.com/news/6-24/6-24-tro.htm
BY JEREMIAHS ANTONIO III
Bulatlat

Some 800 petitioners who come from various walks of life, including church people, environmental activists, students, academicians, musicians, film and television personalities, and a former beauty queen banded together for a common cause, to stop the operations of La Fayette Philippines, Inc.

Some 800 petitioners filed a temporary restraining order (TRO) before the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) last week seeking to enjoin Secretary Angelo Reyes of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Lafayette Philippines Inc. (LPI) from performing a 30-day test run in Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay. (more…)