Catholic priest leading a protest against mining operations in Zamboanga gets death threat
text HADER GLANG

A Catholic clergy here, which has been spearheading moves to protest the proposed mining operations in Vitali in Zamboanga City, on Wednesday received a death threat from an unidentified group.

Saint Joseph Parish priest Monsignor Crisanto de la Cruz said the death threat was contained in a gift, which was left during an offertory (novena mass) for the feast of San Jose on March 19.

He said a bullet of M16 armalite rifle and that of .45 caliber pistol attached to the bath soap were placed inside the gift with “Merry Christmas” greeting and underlined name “Cris” written on it.

“This (death threat) will not deter me from obeying the Archbishop that has taken the stand and all the priests. No amount of threats could stop me from telling the truth,” the priest said.

Arcbishop Carmelo Morelos earlier issued a pastoral letters, calling for the recall of City Council’s resolution, citing the ecological disaster similar to Southern Leyte landslide, where over 1,000 people died.

The Linktone International Mining Corporation (LIMC) proposed to invest a P250 million-iron mining project at Vitali District assuring that it would lead to economic prosperity of the people, create more job opportunities and increase revenue generation for the city.

The company promised it would provide direct employment of not less than 500 residents and over 1,000 indirectly hired which could be translated to nearly 10,000 people at an average of P6,000 monthly income per family.

The business sector would likewise benefit from the Linktone operations of not less than P30 million of monthly money circulations that would be derived from contract and purchases in the city.

Linktone is also planning to improve, rehabilitate roads and infrastructure within the city, specifically in villages of Vitali, Mangguso, Sibulao, Tigtapul, Licomo, Dabuy, Tagasilay and Tigbalabag, and also construct its own port amounting to P50 million.

“The intention of Linktone aside from its mining operations is to be a partner of the government of Zamboanga to help alleviate the plight of its constituents and address the basic problems especially the people of Vitali where poverty is prevalent,” said Rosalito Mendoza, LIMC vice president for operations.

“If Linktone will be given the opportunity to start its mining operations, the city would directly benefit not only in terms of thousands of jobs but also the increasing revenue collections that would spark economic growth and translate into generations of more jobs, more government infrastructure and more social services for the constituents,” he added

Mendoza also shrugged off the priest's statement accusing the city councilors of receiving money from Linktone company in exchange for the support of their mining operations, saying that it has no basis.

On March 9, members of the City Council passed and unanimously approved a resolution 202, which endorses the application for Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) of the mining firm at Vitali.

Only three councilors have opposed saying that the passage of the resolution was railroaded by the majority on grounds that they were not furnished with a copy of the report of the committee on environment where the resolution was contained.

But Monsignor de la Cruz maintains that mining operation in the area would cause serious environmental destruction to Vitali that has been identified by the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau to be susceptible to flooding and landslides.

“We are appealing to the mayor (Celso Lobregat) to reconsider his stand. We know that he has the persuasive power,” he said. “I am reiterating the appeal of the Archbishop, calling on all Catholic schools, parishes and the people of Vitali to pray and to do some reflection and act as one.” (ZS)