Philippines Update
Published by MAC on 2006-07-21
Philippines Update
21st July 2006
Controversy continues over the 30 day trial period of operation, granted to Lafayette's Rapu Rapu mine. The company has asked to resume "regular mining operations" even though the trial is not yet over and it now faces a class action law suit by concerned locals and other Philippine citizens.
A US court has accepted a submission by the Provincial Government of Marinduque that Barrick Gold should be included as a co-defendant in the case the government has filed against Placer Dome over the 1996 Marcopper tailings disaster.
Philex Mining, joining the current 'gold rush', has applied to mine inside the Philippine Military Academy, Fort del Pilar. As with quarrying at Biak-na-Bato (recently covered on this website) it seems that the cultural (even political) implications of exploiting such an important location could well bring in new allies to the national struggle against mining.