Defending the Environment is Not a Crime
- Defend NGOs Alliance
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
A Statement of Support to the Anti-Mining Community in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya
The Council for People's Development and Governance (CPDG) and Defend NGOs Alliance welcome the dismissal of the forcible entry case filed against Bishop Elmer Mangalinao, Fr. Christian Dumangeng, and several members of the community of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, on 24 June 2026. Furthermore, CPDG and Defend NGOs support the barricades and people's collective action against the mining exploration of North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation (NLMRC).
Bishop Mangalinao is the current Bishop of the Diocese of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. The filing of the case stemmed from the community’s strong opposition to NLMRC’s mining exploration. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) approved the exploration permit, which covers 4,456 hectares and spans six barangays in the municipality of Kasibu, namely Pao, Kakiduguen, Paquet, Dine, Catarawan, Siguem, Muta, and Biyoyi.
According to residents and their legal counsel, Atty. Fidel Santos, no genuine consultation took place. NLMRC allegedly used an attendance sheet from a different activity, falsely claiming that a consultation was conducted. Despite the strong opposition from the residents, drilling operations have commenced, threatening farms, water sources, forests, and the survival of affected communities.
Throughout the province of Nueva Vizcaya, these developments serve as a stark reminder and clear evidence of the destructive toll of large-scale extractive mining. This is already apparent in the destructive operation of OceanaGold Philippine Inc in Didipio, the long-standing issues linked to the Woggle Mining Corporation in Dupax del Norte, and its sister company, FCF Minerals Corporation, operating in Runruno. These large-scale mining operations caused displacement of whole communities and environmental devastation. The heavy deployment of military personnel has sown fear and anxiety among the residents. Instead of implementing its constitutional mandate of protecting people’s interests, the military protects corporate interests over.
Welcoming the court’s decision, Bishop Mangalinao stated that this legal triumph “is a victory for truth, justice, and the collective efforts of communities who courageously stand to protect our land, water, and future generations”.
In a separate statement, the Defend Nueva Viscaya Movement emphasized the broader implications of the legal battle: “The filing of a ‘forcible entry’ case against Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao, Fr. Christian Dumangeng, and fellow defenders is not just a civil matter; it exposes how laws are being weaponized against land and environmental defenders.”
CPDG and the Defend NGOs Alliance stand in firm solidarity with the communities that have long resisted destructive mining projects. We call on lawmakers to pass the People’s Mining Bill. Three decades have passed, yet the plunder permitted under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 continues unabated. The HB 8248 People’s Mining Bill offers a fundamentally different framework, one that places the interests of communities, environmental protection, and national industrial development.
We likewise strongly urge the government to prioritize the legislation of a Business and Human Rights law to make corporations accountable and stop the intimidation and legal harassment against environmental human rights defenders. Also, legislate the Anti-SLAPP Bill (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation).
We urge civil society organizations and networks to stand in solidarity against these acts of harassment.
Comments