“Why do the military insist that the reasons we are so determined to stop the foreign mining companies are the NPAs, who are supposedly pushing us to do so? Don’t we, lowly people, also have the right to unite to protect our lands?”
“The solid support showed by the church people, farmers and professionals shows the anti-mining sentiments of the people of Nueva Vizcaya.”
Joint forces of the Philippine Army and the PNP have reportedly tried to dismantle the barricade in serving the TRO against the local leaders, but they have been foiled by “the strong and organized resistance of the people.”
By KIMBERLIE OLMAYA NGABIT-QUITASOL Northern Dispatch BAKUN, Benguet — The claims of the residents of village Gambang here regarding the irregularities in the free prior and informed consent (FPIC) process conducted by the National Commission on Indigenous People’s (NCIP) was validated in the recently concluded consultation conducted by the National Cultural Communities (NCC) of the…