MAMAMAYANG Liberal President Teddy Baguilat has stated his opposition to a mining exploration with a firm based in the United Kingdom.
In a statement on Tuesday, Jan. 27, Baguilat said the lives of the Indigenous Peoples at Dupax del Norte in Nueva Vizcaya are at stake.
“The lives of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in Dupax Del Norte are being placed at risk by the push to proceed with its challenged mining exploration,” said Baguilat.
“We respect the rule of law and the government institutions. As such, we also demand that the State fulfill its obligations to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who remain especially vulnerable to the impacts of mining and other extractive activities in their ancestral and traditional territories,” he added.
The mining exploration came from Woggle Corp., which is owned by Metals Exploration Plc, a London-based company listed on the London Stock Exchange in the United Kingdom.
Citing the 4th Philippine Human Rights Plan (2024–2028), the national government committed to the “strict and good-faith implementation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and local communities” consultation as a substantive human rights. Both rights-based procedures must be free from coercion, manipulation, or pressure.
“Where mining threatens Indigenous and local communities’ rights to land, culture, livelihood, health, and security, or has clearly been opposed, the permits must be suspended, denied, or revoked. Development that causes fear, displacement, or harm has no legitimacy,” Baguilat said.
“The State must also ensure the protection of Indigenous leaders, elders, women, youth, and environmental defenders. Intimidation, political vilification, harassment, and violence must stop and must be investigated and held to account,” added Baguilat.
The former lawmaker said that as the country prepares to host the 2026 Asean Summits, it should demonstrate that economic development should be aligned with human rights and environmental sustainability.
“At its core, the law exists to serve the people, particularly those who are most marginalized and vulnerable. Justice must protect their dignity and well-being. This requires a serious review of government processes, particularly by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, to ensure that Indigenous rights are fully safeguarded,” he wrote.
“Beyond the government, we call on the public to stand in solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples and local communities of Dupax Del Norte. Their defense of ancestral lands is a shared responsibility. Protecting their rights today protects our environment, our laws, and our shared future,” the former lawmaker said.
Source: Baguilat opposes UK firm’s mining exploration in Dupax del Norte
