Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay - The Forty Five community leaders from six municipalities who joined the Sibugay Valley Conference on Mining and Environment on September 25-26 at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, here see TVI Resource Development Philippines, a Calgary Canada based mining firm as destructive, aggressive and exploitative.

The conference’s declaration demands from the present administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the cancellation of Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) of TVI in Mt. Canatuan, Tabayo Siocon Zamboanga del Norte.

In addition to the conference also demands the cancellation of the mining permit of Cebu Ore in Bayog Zamboanga del Sur, Philex Mining in Sibutad Zamboanga del Norte and other aggressive, exploitative and destructive mining in the region.

The declaration claims that TVI operation in Mount Canatuan resulted to the human rights violations, environmental destruction, and division of the Subanon People, deprivation of farmers, fisher folks and Indigenous Peoples means of living.

“The TVI operation resulted to the physical displacement of communities through the employment of the Special Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (SCAA) which committed intimidations and harassments against the Subanon people”, the declaration added.

TVI which is the most aggressive mining firm in this part of the country and is using full blast open cut mining operation in mount Canatuan, Tabayo Siocon Zamboanga del Norte, is now expanding its operation in Balabag Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur which threatened the lives and means of livelihood of the people of Sibugay Valley, considered the food basket of the Zamboanga Sibugay Province.

This firm has been notoriously accused of committing Human Rights Violations by employing economic and food blockade since 1997 in Mount Canatuan, Tabayo, Siocon Zamboanga del Norte.

Record shows that on September 6, 1999, TVI’s SCAA with the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the 903rd Mobile Force forcibly dispersed the legitimate protest of the Subanon People resulting to the injuries of number of protesters.

On March 17, 2004, TVI armed SCAA indiscriminately fired towards the legitimate protesters that seriously wounding the four people including the 70 year old Subanon Chieftain Timuay Macario Salacao.

Last June this year, TVI SCAA led by Ret Lt. Jaime Cortes forcibly demolished the house of Mr. and Mrs. Floro Galves at around 11:45 in the evening without necessary legal authority and beaten up Manolita Galves, the wife of Floro at Mount Canatuan, the victims alleged.