Cpp Mobilizes Npa Vs Mining Firms

CPP mobilizes NPA vs mining firms

GMA TV News - http://www.gmanews.tv/story/53998/CPP-mobilizes-NPA-vs-mining-firms

2nd August 2007

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) mobilized the New People's Army (NPA) Thursday to stop what it called the "plundering of the country's environment and mineral resources" by mining firms.

In a statement posted on its website (www.philippinerevolution.net), CPP spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal scored President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for placing a mining firm directly under her office.

"Arroyo is taking complete control of the mining industry to further ensure big foreign mining companies and their comprador partners all privileges and advantages as provided for under RA 7942 or the Mining Act of 1995. With their heightened control, Arroyo and her kin and collaborators will be pocketing billions of pesos in cuts and bribes," Rosal said.

President Arroyo, in Executive Order 636, placed the Philippine Mining Development Corp. (PDMC), a government-owned and controlled corporation, under her direct supervision.

Rosal also questioned the appointment last July 31 of her brother-in-law, Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, as head of the House Committee on Natural Resources.

He branded the two moves as part of a "double mining coup" that will pave the way for unrestricted foreign and big comprador plunder of Philippine mineral resources.

Because of this, he said the NPA now has marching orders "to intensify efforts, both armed and non-armed, to stop the Arroyos and their imperialist and local comprador partners from plundering the country's environment and mineral resources."

Rosal said Mrs Arroyo and foreign big mining companies have set eyes on some nine million hectares of Philippine mineral-rich lands for intensified exploration and exploitation.

This acceleration of foreign plunder of Philippine mineral resources is detrimental to the Philippine economy and the environment, Rosal added.

"Foreign mining companies plunder billions of dollars worth of resources, siphon them out of the country and leave the Filipino people suffering from their pillage." Since the 1970s, foreign mining companies have plundered as much as $30 billion worth of mineral resources from the Philippines, said Rosal.

He said the NPA "has standing orders to carry out all necessary action and assistance to the people in preventing foreign big mining companies and their local big comprador and bureaucrat collaborators from carrying out the all-out plunder of our natural resources."

"The NPA, the peasant masses and national minorities will do their utmost to stop Arroyo and foreign big mining companies from setting up and stepping up their operations in the Philippine countryside especially within and around revolutionary territory," he said. - GMANews.TV