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Gov't urged: Hold mining firm liable for Itogon landslide

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<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1423984" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA - (UPDATED) Benguet Corporation should be held liable for the landslide that killed at least 19 miners in the mountain town of Itogon, Benguet, an anti-mining advocate said Wednesday.</p><p>The mining firm earlier said it has already suspended its operations in Barangay Ucab but small-scale miners resisted their orders to stop. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/17/18/benguet-corp-small-scale-miners-in-itogon-ignored-warnings">Benguet Corp: Small scale miners in Itogon ignored warnings</a></li></ul><p>But Jaybee Garganera, national coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina, said Benguet Corporation&#x27;s statement was only a &quot;half truth&quot; and the firm may even be profiting from the illegal mining in the area.</p><p>&quot;Benguet Corporation claims they stopped doing work there. Okay, that&#x27;s only a half-truth. Their contract is still live. They should have started rehab, decommissioning, and closure procedures in the Antamok mines more than 10 years ago,&quot; he told ANC.</p><p>In response, Benguet Corporation stressed that it never allowed illegal mining operations there. The company added that not even a DENR moratorium in 2009 was able to stop the unregulated mining activities.</p><p>&quot;What are the facts? The affected small-scale miners whose shanties were swept by the landslide are illegally operating in the company&#x27;s Antamok claims. Their illegal mining and gold processing activities in Antomok are without permission of BC,&quot; it said in a statement. </p><p>Miners who stayed in an old bunkhouse of the Benguet Corporation during the onslaught of typhoon Ompong were buried in mud after a softened slope of the mountain collapsed due to heavy rains. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/18/18/miners-dig-for-their-own-in-itogon-landslide">Miners dig for their own in Itogon landslide</a></li></ul><p>Garganera said Benguet Corporation&#x27;s mining sites remain open for years, luring illegal miners who sell their ore to middlemen who in turn may be selling these to the mining firm.</p><p>He added the environment department should also be held accountable. &quot;If that mine is already for rehab, decommissioning, closure, it shouldn&#x27;t have taken 5 years. But it&#x27;s already over 10 years,&quot; he said. </p><h3>Duterte urged to ban open-pit mining</h3><p>The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has already ordered the stoppage of all small-scale mining in Cordillera following the fatal landslides in the region. </p><p>Mayor Victorio Palangdan, who has been blaming mining for the landslides, also vowed to stop all illegal mining operation in his town.</p><p>But Garganera said President Rodrigo Duterte should &quot;walk the talk&quot; and issue an executive order to once and for all ban open-pit mining in the country. </p><p>He said there should be no regrets on tightening policies in the mining industry that only accounts for less than 1 percent of the country&#x27;s gross domestic product.</p><p>&quot;It doesn&#x27;t make sense that we are prioritizing an industry that contributes less than 1 percent to our economy and puts at risk agriculture, tourism, forestry, and fisheries,&quot; he said.</p><p>Garganera added that compared to mining, the industries of agriculture, tourism, forestry, and fisheries are contributing 17 to 20 percent to the country&#x27;s economy.</p><p>He is also hoping Duterte will certify as urgent the Alternative Minerals Management Bill, a new measure that will make sure that mining will not compromise the environment.</p>

<p>Benguet Corporation should be held liable for the landslide that killed at least 19 miners in the mountain town of Itogon, Benguet, an advocate said Wednesday.</p>

Benguet Corporation should be held liable for the landslide that killed at least 19 miners in the mountain town of Itogon, Benguet, an advocate said Wednesday.