City Council rejects another anti-mining petition
text & photos HADER GLANG

The City Council on Thursday junked another motion that seeks to expunge the controversial resolution 202, which endorses the Environmental Clearance Certificate of Linktone International Mining Corporation.

The majority bloc rejected the move by 10 votes, citing the adoption of resolution earlier, which was already forwarded to the Environmental Management Bureau for study and recommendation.

Ten pro-mining councilors had on March 9 approved resolution 202, triggering a protest from residents of Vitali and religious leaders of Archdiocese of Zamboanga, who elevated the issue to Malacanang after an appeal to recall the resolution was rejected.

On Marcch 16, Councilor Cesar Jimenez, one of the leading anti-mining voices, filed a motion to rescind or expunge resolution 202, invoking Rule 17, Section 18, of the Rules of Procedure of the Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council)

In an interview, Jimenez expressed disappointment that in spite of all the efforts to have resolution 202 withdrawn and later expunged or rescinded, there was no change of heart on the part of the majority members.

“It was our last attempt and remedy to have resolution 202 to be expunged from the records of the council, but as expected we did not get a favorable vote from the council, so the resolution stays,” he told reporters.

The pro-mining councilors said they upheld the resolution to show that the city is open for investment and for the EMB to come up a thorough study on the ecological effect of the mining and the Linktone’s operation.

“We want to show that there is due process,” said Councilor Juan “Kim Elago. “We have a separation of church and state and to question our wisdom is uncalled for.”

Councilor Asbi Edding said he is convinced of the benefits the large-scale mining investment would bring in to the city. “I am in favor because this will bring employment to our people. This will improve the quality of life of our people.

Earlier, the majority members of the City Council stood firm to their decision, saying that they will not succumb to the church's protest even if this threatens their political carrier in the 2007 elections. (ZS)