1. Villar-Ayala-Yulo lose Sta. Rosa Laguna LANDGRABBING Case

AUGUST 13, 2016 BY PINOYNEWS4

Real estate giants Villar, Ayala and Yulo lost a 430 hectare LANDGRABBING case in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Only the Villar side (that got 38 hectares out of the disputed 430 hectares) filed and lost on appeal while Ayala and Yulo stood aside to wait for the decision which also affects their separate but adjacent land claims.

The final verdict was promulgated in February of 2016 but then Aquino Administration Department of the Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Paje did not release the landmark decision. With the assumption of the Duterte Administration last June 30, 2016 and a new DENR Secretary in the person of Gina Lopez, the ancestral owners of the contested land are confident that JUSTICE will prevail. The long-standing dispute has resulted in the LOSS of LIVES on the side of farmer families who have always denounced FAVORITISM on the part of government land officials, local government unit executives and the police. The real estate moguls have resorted to physical violence and legal harassment in the form of filing endless frivolous case in the barangay and municipal levels.

Sta. Rosa, Laguna has grown into a prime suburban development area with the old industrial factories now side-by-side with plush subdivisions. The greatest impact of the adverse decision against the developers is the question of whether the REAL OWNERS would take PHYSICAL CONTROL of the mall, retail and office areas as well as high-end houses that are already occupied by the unsuspecting “BUYERS” who have paid, in part or in full, for their properties. Developers, of course, have the option to purchase the land that they have already improved and absorb huge losses in exchange for peace of mind. Otherwise, they stand to be deluged with lawsuits as well as TARNISHING their CREDIBILITY which may affect future sales in their many other projects.

#Duterte #ChangeIsHere #WarOnDrugs #NoToOligarchs #LandGrabbing

2. Bloomberg: Philippine Tycoon Loses $18 Billion as Property Fortune Wilts in Four Days

By Anders Melin and Neil Jerome Morales

November 18, 2025

Takeaways by Bloomberg AIHide

• One of the frothiest stocks in the Philippines continued its days-long plunge on Wednesday, erasing more than $18 billion of its founder’s fortune.
• Golden MV Holdings Inc. is down 83%, its worst streak as a public company, after regulators lifted a six-month trading suspension on the stock.
• The company’s founder Manuel Villar is now worth $4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, and is no longer the richest man in the Philippines.

One of the frothiest stocks in the Philippines continued its days-long plunge on Wednesday, erasing more than $18 billion of its founder’s fortune and raising new questions about its remarkable ascent and sudden nosedive.

Property developer Golden MV Holdings Inc. began falling on Thursday after regulators lifted a six-month trading suspension on the stock. So far it’s down 83%, its worst streak as a public company.

It has also knocked Golden MV founder Manuel Villar off the perch as the richest man in the Philippines. He’s now worth $4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, eclipsed by business tycoon Enrique Razon.

Golden MV told regulators both on Friday, Monday and Tuesday that it didn’t know why the stock dropped, filings show. A company representative didn’t respond to requests for comment.

“When a stock returns from trading halt — especially one linked to a high-profile tycoon like Manny Villar — investors typically reassess” its price relative to the company’s fundamentals, said Toby Allan Arce, an analyst at Globalinks Securities & Stocks Inc. “The market appears to have concluded that the company’s pre-suspension valuation was far too rich.”

Regulators suspended the stock in May after the company failed to file financial results because of a disagreement with its auditor. The sticking point was the valuation of land that Golden MV acquired from its founder for $93 million and subsequently revalued to $23.3 billion.

That transaction followed a run-up in Golden MV’s stock price that pushed the company’s price-to-earnings ratio above 1,000 and perplexed Manila’s financial community. Villar and parties related to him control 89% of the company’s shares.

In its 2024 annual report filed last week, Golden MV noted that it had agreed to value the land using a method suggested by its external auditors, which yielded a value closer to what the company paid for it.

Golden MV develops and manages cemeteries, memorial parks and low-cost housing. It’s developing a project called Villar City, which it says is a plan to transform a cluster of cities in southern Manila into the capital’s “new center of gravity.” The land acquired last year is meant to be part of that development.

Threats, coercion and harassment used to intimidate the poorest of the poor

The long held open secret in the Marikina urban poor communities is FINALLY OUT. The see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil Office of the Mayor of Marikina since the time of the Fernando husband and wife mayors, is now officially aware of the financial shenanigans emanating from the MSO, the city help desk specifically formed to facilitate, assist and otherwise improve the lot of former squatters who were relocated and given the chance to own their assigned pieces of property as long as they paid their long term monthly amortization.

The city has garnered awards for the grand project initiated decades ago. Today, thousands of RELOCATEE families have fully paid their obligations and enjoy the guarantees of freedom from forced evictions, harassment and other threats.

The current GRAFT and CORRUPTION instituted and implemented by the MSO originated with the observation that some of families could not keep up with the monthly payments. Initially some voluntarily sold their rights because they were moving up the economic ladder and could now afford more expensive real estate. Others had their bread winners and/or OFW relatives stricken by misfortune (death, incapacitation, illness and/or OFW repatriations or loss of foreign contracts) and opted to live in their home provinces instead. Take note that many years after the resettlement process, the price of real estate in the area started to rise due to development, concentration of residents, proximity to schools, churches and businesses (fast food chains, bills payment centers, electronic shops) that are all parts of a thriving and dynamic community.

It did not take long for entrepreneurs to be attracted to opportunities to set up sarisari stores, groceries, bakeries, carinderias, hardware stores, restaurants, food to go, repair shops, internet shops, fruit stalls and what have you.

Buying out the gainfully employed would be a dicey proposition since they have no plans of moving out. In fact, from the original one to two story wooden structures, a significant number have already upgraded to three story reinforced concrete buildings.

It did not take a genius to figure out that the most vulnerable and prone to selling out would be the poorest of the poor who could not make good on their monthly installments and had, in fact, even incurred late payment and interest penalty charges, additional burdens to those who could not pay the principal amounts.

Enter MSO employees who had negotiated with real estate money bags with the promise to take care of the eviction of those delinquent hoi polloi. It was easy picking and huge money making during the golden age of MSO corruption. It was not all milk and honey though, with at least 3 MSO employees dying in separate incidents (two during demolitions and one apparently killed when cornered). Fast forward to the present and the pool of available lots has already shrunk (fully paid by the original settlers or now under the control of secondary buyers). Due to the violent deaths of the MSO employees, the modus operandi has evolved to MSO employees now offering the delinquent settlers cash (PHP 30,000 to 100,000) on top of the original payment of arrears and a little “lunch money” and relocation assistance. Due to the large demand for the lots and the dwindling supply, MSO employees are given a cash advance per piece of land by the unscrupulous real estate financiers ( PHP 300,000 to 500,000) to take care of the payoffs to the delinquent settlers, payments for the unpaid monthly dues, interest and penalties, expenses for barangay captains, kagawads, home owner association officers (usually the president and treasurer) and a whole chain of hangers on in the Marikina city government bureaucracy. Everybody happy. Corruption is a way of life and a good provider. The irony here is that the poorest of the poor are exploited by the very office set up to help them. In truth, the budget of the CORRUPT MSO could have better been spent subsidizing those that could not make ends meet and/or pay their delinquent accounts.

Suffice it to say that there are dozens of horror stories on how MSO employees harassed, coerced, intimidated, ridiculed, threatened, demeaned and otherwise insulted their target delinquents to take their money offer and peacefully vacate their premises as the real estate vultures had already advanced significant amounts and plans for the next business establishments were already in place. A classic tactic resorted to is throwing stones at the houses of those reluctant to cooperate with MSO employee enticements. To date, no case has been filed in court against the errant MSO officials although a number have been kicked out of their jobs while others have fled the scene before the law catches up to them. It goes without saying that the fruits of corruption far outweigh the salaries of the evil MSO employees.

We wish the current Marikina city mayor good luck in cleaning up the mess and to institute legal action against the perpetrators of crimes against the helpless poor.

#Marikina #MarikinaCorruption #ToleratingExploitation #PoorestOfThePoor

Sabi nila na mapalad daw ang bansang Pilipinas dahil marami itong LIKHANG YAMAN (natural resources). Totoo naman na malaki ang lupain ng ating bansa (pang 72 sa 195 na nakalista) kaya malawak ang maaring taniman ng palay, niyog, asukal, mga gulay at punong mapagkukunan ng mga prutas. Andyan din ang karagatan, mga dagat at lawa na napaghuhulihan ng mga isda. Sa lupa naman ay may ginto, pilak, tanso at marami pang ibang magagamit sa paggawa ng bakal, yero at mga piyesa ng mga sasakyan at computer. Andiyan pa ang mga lugar at tanawin na sikat sa buong mundo (Banawe Rice Terraces, Boracay, Palawan, Anilao, Mayon Volcano, Siargao, Bohol at Manila Bay sunset). 

Swerte talaga ang Pilipinas at ang mga Pilipino (mga masipag at masiyahing mga tao). Yun lang ay sa gitna ng dapat kayamanan at kaunlaran, marami ang naghihirap at walang sapat na makain sa buong araw. 

Paano nangyari yon? Kahirapan sa gitna ng lahat ng biyaya at kagutuman sa mga magsasaka na nagtatanim ng ating mga makakain. Sa mga lungsod naman ay nagsisiksikan ang mga walang trabaho o kung may kaunti mang pagkakakitaan ay hindi sapat makaahon sa pangarawaraw na paghahanap ng pantawid gutom.

Batay sa Saligang Batas, “Ang Pilipinas ay isang demokratiko at republikang Estado. Nasa mga mamamayan ang kapangyarihan nito at nagmumula sa kanila ang buong pamunuan ng pamahalaan.”

Wow. Parang ang sarap basahin. Ang mga mamayan ang boss. Sila ang nagluluklok sa mga pinuno ng bayan sa pamamagitan ng halalan. Pero sila ba ang nasusunod? Sila ba ang nakikinabang? Mahirap yata tayong mapaniwala sa ganyang mga pananalita sapagkat hindi naman talaga patas ang laban ng mga mahihirap at mayayaman sa mata ng hukuman at batas.

Ibigay natin ang halimbawa ng pagkakakulong ng mga mahihirap. Diba para silang sardinas sa kanilang mga selda kung saan malimit ay walang sapat na lugar kung saan sila sabaysabay na matutulog ng nakahiga. Sa kakulangan ng espasyo, may natutulog ng nakaupo sa lapag at ilalagay nalang nila ang mga ulo nila sa kanilang mga tuhod. O diba, de may tatlo o apat na makakaidlip sa ganoong paraan kaysa sa isa lang ang makatulog na pahiga o padapa. Yun namang may mga mapagsasabitan ng mga duyan ay nakakapagtali ng matutulugan kaya masarap ang tulog nila. Walang katabi at gumagalaw pa kaya mahimbing ang tulog nila. O kaya naman ay may mga nakatayo at nagiintay ng panahon o takdang oras kung kailan sila maaring matulog. Eka nga ay halinhinan na parang shifting sa dalawamputapat na oras sa pabrika.

Eh papaano naman makulong ang mga mayaman at may kapangyarihan? Dalawang dating Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas ay humimas ng rehas. Si Erap na pinakulong ni GMA at si GMA naman na piniit ni P-Noy. Parehong dumaan sa tinatawag na HOSPITAL ARREST. Eka nga ay malaking silid sa pagamutan kung saan kumpleto sa karangyaan, pagkain at mga nakabantay na mga pulis. Sa Veterans Memorial Medical Center, masaya ang buhay ng mga kawani sapagkat laging may handaan kung saan marami ang nabusog. Nilipat naman si Erap sa Tanay kung saan mayroon siyang rest house o mansion kaya HOUSE ARREST naman ang naging estado niya. Nahatulan si Erap sa kasalanang PANDARAMBONG ngunit hindi nagtagal ay binigyan naman siya ng PRESIDENTIAL PARDON. Nakuha pang tumakbong muli si Erap sa pagkapangulo nuong 2010 ngunit pumangalawa lamang siya kay P-Noy. 

Sumunod naman sa Veteran Memorial Medical Center si GMA na nakakatanggap ng maraming bisita na pingungunahan ng mga dating opisyal niya sa gabinete. Napawalang bisa ang kasong PANDARAMBONG kaugnay ng PCSO funds bagamat nakakulong siya mula 2011 hanggang 2016 sapagkat ang kaso niya ay non bailable. 

Filipino Japanese Yuka Saso, representing Japan, placed 6th in the Women’s World Championship held in Singapore. She received $62,000 (PHP 3.5 million) as her prize money.

This is her second 6th place in three LPGA tournaments for 2023 having placed 20th in between two top ten finishes.

Saso won the US Open Women’s Golf Championship (a major tournament) in 2021 getting USD 1 million for the feat.

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 BY PINOYNEWS4

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 BY PINOYNEWS4

Hindi lang siya CELEBRITY ENDORSER dahil Chairman of the Board siya ng kumpanya kung saan siya ang nagpapatupad ng mga pagpupulong, gumagawa ng mga patakaran ng kumpanya (matapos makakuha ng sapat na bilang ng boto sa mga kasapi ng Board of Directors) at pangunahing tagasubaybay sa pamamahala ng kumpanya. Dahil hindi siya ang Chief Executive Officer ng kumpanya, ang CEO ay sa kaniya nagrereport. Kung hindi sumusunod sa kaniya ang mga tagapamahala ng kaniyang kumpanya, dapat tinanggal niya ang mga ito sa trabaho (sa pamamagitan ng isang resolusyon ng Board of Directors).

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Luis Manzano tagged in alleged scam; denies role in managing business

By GMA Integrated News

Published February 2, 2023

Actor-host Luis Manzano is facing a complaint before the National Bureau of Investigation in connection with an alleged investment scam.

According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras”, Jinky Sta. Isabel and other investors filed the complaint in a bid to recover millions of pesos in investments.

She said it was Manzano’s pitch that convinced her to invest in Flex Fuel. He’s allegedly the chairman and one of the owners.

“‘Ako ito. Luis Manzano ito.’ Kaya agad-agad akong nag deposit,” Sta. Isabel said.

“Siyempre, hindi ka magda-doubt sa kanya. Siyempre, Luis Manzano, artista,” she added.

Sta. Isabel said the company had been allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell products, not solicit investments.

In a statement, Manzano said, “I never took part in the management of the business.”

He also reportedly lost millions of pesos.

Manzano’s camp said that he filed a complaint against his friend and company CEO Ildefonso Medel Jr. in November 2022 after investors approached him to recover their money. —Sherylin Untalan/NB, GMA Integrated News

#NotSoLucky #MalasLangOBobo #ChairmanKaPalaDeIkawAngPinakamataasNaOpisyaSaKumpanya

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 BY PINOYNEWS4

Hindi lang siya CELEBRITY ENDORSER dahil Chairman of the Board siya ng kumpanya kung saan siya ang nagpapatupad ng mga pagpupulong, gumagawa ng mga patakaran ng kumpanya (matapos makakuha ng sapat na bilang ng boto sa mga kasapi ng Board of Directors) at pangunahing tagasubaybay sa pamamahala ng kumpanya. Dahil hindi siya ang Chief Executive Officer ng kumpanya, ang CEO ay sa kaniya nagrereport. Kung hindi sumusunod sa kaniya ang mga tagapamahala ng kaniyang kumpanya, dapat tinanggal niya ang mga ito sa trabaho (sa pamamagitan ng isang resolusyon ng Board of Directors).

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Luis Manzano tagged in alleged scam; denies role in managing business

By GMA Integrated News

Published February 2, 2023

Actor-host Luis Manzano is facing a complaint before the National Bureau of Investigation in connection with an alleged investment scam.

According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras”, Jinky Sta. Isabel and other investors filed the complaint in a bid to recover millions of pesos in investments.

She said it was Manzano’s pitch that convinced her to invest in Flex Fuel. He’s allegedly the chairman and one of the owners.

“‘Ako ito. Luis Manzano ito.’ Kaya agad-agad akong nag deposit,” Sta. Isabel said.

“Siyempre, hindi ka magda-doubt sa kanya. Siyempre, Luis Manzano, artista,” she added.

Sta. Isabel said the company had been allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell products, not solicit investments.

In a statement, Manzano said, “I never took part in the management of the business.”

He also reportedly lost millions of pesos.

Manzano’s camp said that he filed a complaint against his friend and company CEO Ildefonso Medel Jr. in November 2022 after investors approached him to recover their money. —Sherylin Untalan/NB, GMA Integrated News

#NotSoLucky #MalasLangOBobo #ChairmanKaPalaDeIkawAngPinakamataasNaOpisyaSaKumpanya

Hindi lang siya CELEBRITY ENDORSER dahil Chairman of the Board siya ng kumpanya kung saan siya ang nagpapatupad ng mga pagpupulong, gumagawa ng mga patakaran ng kumpanya (matapos makakuha ng sapat na bilang ng boto sa mga kasapi ng Board of Directors) at pangunahing tagasubaybay sa pamamahala ng kumpanya. Dahil hindi siya ang Chief Executive Officer ng kumpanya, ang CEO ay sa kaniya nagrereport. Kung hindi sumusunod sa kaniya ang mga tagapamahala ng kaniyang kumpanya, dapat tinanggal niya ang mga ito sa trabaho (sa pamamagitan ng isang resolusyon ng Board of Directors).

************************

Luis Manzano tagged in alleged scam; denies role in managing business

By GMA Integrated News

Published February 2, 2023

Actor-host Luis Manzano is facing a complaint before the National Bureau of Investigation in connection with an alleged investment scam.

According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras”, Jinky Sta. Isabel and other investors filed the complaint in a bid to recover millions of pesos in investments.

She said it was Manzano’s pitch that convinced her to invest in Flex Fuel. He’s allegedly the chairman and one of the owners.

“‘Ako ito. Luis Manzano ito.’ Kaya agad-agad akong nag deposit,” Sta. Isabel said.

“Siyempre, hindi ka magda-doubt sa kanya. Siyempre, Luis Manzano, artista,” she added.

Sta. Isabel said the company had been allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell products, not solicit investments.

In a statement, Manzano said, “I never took part in the management of the business.”

He also reportedly lost millions of pesos.

Manzano’s camp said that he filed a complaint against his friend and company CEO Ildefonso Medel Jr. in November 2022 after investors approached him to recover their money. —Sherylin Untalan/NB, GMA Integrated News

#NotSoLucky #MalasLangOBobo #ChairmanKaPalaDeIkawAngPinakamataasNaOpisyaSaKumpanya

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 BY PINOYNEWS4

Tila David at Goliath ang labanan kontra minahan sa isla ng Sibuyan. Isang pamilyang BILYONARYO ang naghahasik ng lagim sa pamamagitan ng pagsira sa kalikasan na magdadala ng BAHA (flooding) at PAGGUHO ng LUPA (landslide). Habang may YAYAMAN pa more dahil sa malakihang negosyo, ang mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan ang papasahan sa mga maiiwang sakit ng ulo. Buhay at mga bahay nila ang haharap sa susunod na mga bagyo na magdadala ng tubig, putik at mga troso.

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Statement of the Social Work Action Network Philippines: THE GATCHALIAN CASE: THE MASTERY OF DOUBLE-SPEAK

 9 February 2023

A review of history tells that the Gachalian family has wormed into the ranks of the ruling class. From a small family owned business in the plastic industry in 1969, it was metamorphosed into a conglomerate composed of “a real estate development company, a bank, an airline, an oil exploration company, a newspaper publication, various hotels and casinos, a stock brokerage, a petrochemical plant and mining companies. In 1994, it organized The Wellex Group, Incorporated as the investment arm of its expanding business concern.”

Two days ago, the militant group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) bared that “Plastics King” William Gatchalian is the one behind the questionable mining operations of the Atlai Philippines Mining Corp (APMC) in Sibuyan island. They claim that Gatchalian’s involvement in the mining company is through his son Kenneth, who is also a director of APMC’s parent firm . The same documents also showed Kenneth Gatchalian sits as chairman of Wellex Mining Corporation, one of the 23 mining firms ordered closed in February 2017 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under then Secretary Regina Lopez .

Kenneth Gatchalian is the brother of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and recently appointed DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

A few days ago, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ordered the mining firm to stop operations of APMC due to lack of permits, among other reasons. Other environmental advocates shared aerial photos which have shown that the firm has already done enough damage, showing that they have already mined some portions of Sibuyan island despite not having an environmental clearance certificate.

This development would not have surfaced in the national consciousness “if not for the local residents blocking roads to stop trucks carrying illegally extracted soil and logs from leaving the island.”

Some colleagues of Sen. Sherwin Gathalian were euphoric on the appointment of Mr. Rexlon to DSWD. The support of the senators on Mr. Gachalian’s appointment to the DSWD insidiously promote a false dichotomy between urban and rural areas from the lens of environmental protection. One senator even prophesized that the new DSWD head “will hopefully bring disaster risk reduction to DSWD as he knows that as congressman, and former mayor of Valenzuela, a vulnerable city,”. Yet he is the same individual that belongs to a family that willfully violated the law leading to the damage of a paradise island for profits in a rural area.

Reactionary pundits will always assert that the sin of the father is not the sin of the son. But the fact remains that the Gachalian family runs a business conglomerate. In this case, it is their company that is starting to destroy the environment with possible aftermath of disasters and calamities.

The reactionary class has always mastered the art of double-speak.

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Environmental group refutes APMC

 By Bella Cariaso – The Manila Times

February 14, 2023

An environmental group on Monday contradicted the claim of Altai Philippines Mining Corp. (APMC) that it is operating legally in Romblon’s Sibuyan Island.

In an interview with The Manila Times, Living Laudato Si’ Philippines executive director Rodne Galicha maintained that APMC’s exploration permit does not justify its violation of various laws in the country.

“The MPSA (mineral production sharing agreement) is not stand-alone. It is not a sweeping contract. It has terms and conditions. It is not a constitution for them to claim that they have the permit so they can do whatever they want,” Galicha said.

In a paid advertisement, the APMC said that it has a “DENR-approved exploration work program.”

“One of the conditions was for them to follow the existing laws. They need to secure the necessary permits,” Galicha said.

In his letter to Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga dated Feb. 10, 2023, Galicha pushed for the revocation of the exploration permit and the MPSA of APMC in Romblon amid the alleged violations committed by the mining company.

Galicha cited the abuses of APMC including its failure to secure permits for the tree cutting and the construction of a causeway, as well as the lack of environmental compliance certificate in constructing a private port.

In a separate radio interview, Galicha also challenged the local government of San Fernando, Romblon to disclose the earnings derived from the mining operation after the APMC’s statement claimed that it contributed revenues to the municipality.

“We are challenging the municipality of San Fernando and even Altai to disclose all those contributions given to anyone that will prove that they actually provided revenues. The revenues from fisheries, agriculture and tourism are still bigger compared to the earnings from the mining operation,” he added.

At the same time, Galicha said that the local government should not have allowed the two barges and a ship of APMC to leave Sibuyan Island amid its violations.

“Our position is that the two barges and the ship should be impounded for illegal docking at the port, including the trucks used in transporting the nickel ore, as they were accessories to the illegal activities in the area,” Galicha noted.

Galicha also branded as lies the claim of APMC that the Sibuyan Island was already in poor environmental condition prior to the mining operation.

“That is a big lie as the island is known for its rich biodiversity. That is illogical and fallacious,” he said.

According to Galicha, the APMC’s call for an impartial investigation undermines the authority of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Senate.

“The DENR should be alarmed by this statement as it is an insult to the competence of DENR personnel,” he added.

The Senate is set to investigate the alleged violations committed by APMC after Sen. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros filed a resolution calling on the upper chamber to look into the mining operation in Romblon.

At the same time, Galicha also answered APMC’s statement that it is not owned by political personalities after reports that the family of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian owns the mining company.

“What we are saying is that it is a Gatchalian led, in particular Kenneth Gatchalian, who is the second biggest shareholder of Pelican Resources Australia that has the control over Altai Philippines Mining Corp. through the Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corp.” Galicha explained.

Kenneth Gatchalian is the brother of the senator.

Galicha said that the APMC operates over 1,580 hectares of land in Sibuyan covering 3.4 percent of the total 445 square kilometer area in the island.

The DENR has suspended the operation of APMC as the former’s Environmental Management Bureau issued notices of violation to APMC for violation of Section 4 of Presidential Decree 1586 or the “Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System,” Republic Act (RA) 6969 or the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990,” RA 9275 or the “Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004,” and Presidential Decree 705 for cutting trees without a permit.

Galicha added that the human barricade will continue on the island after it started on Jan. 26, 2023.

–

#SibuyanMining #NoToMining #BigBusiness #Gatchalian #SenatorWin #DSWDsec #SibuyanIsland #Deforestation #WaterPollution #Landslide #Flooding #Biodiversity #Sibuyan #PlasticsKing

Tila David at Goliath ang labanan kontra minahan sa isla ng Sibuyan. Isang pamilyang BILYONARYO ang naghahasik ng lagim sa pamamagitan ng pagsira sa kalikasan na magdadala ng BAHA (flooding) at PAGGUHO ng LUPA (landslide). Habang may YAYAMAN pa more dahil sa malakihang negosyo, ang mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan ang papasahan sa mga maiiwang sakit ng ulo. Buhay at mga bahay nila ang haharap sa susunod na mga bagyo na magdadala ng tubig, putik at mga troso.

*************************

Statement of the Social Work Action Network Philippines: THE GATCHALIAN CASE: THE MASTERY OF DOUBLE-SPEAK

 9 February 2023

A review of history tells that the Gachalian family has wormed into the ranks of the ruling class. From a small family owned business in the plastic industry in 1969, it was metamorphosed into a conglomerate composed of “a real estate development company, a bank, an airline, an oil exploration company, a newspaper publication, various hotels and casinos, a stock brokerage, a petrochemical plant and mining companies. In 1994, it organized The Wellex Group, Incorporated as the investment arm of its expanding business concern.”

Two days ago, the militant group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) bared that “Plastics King” William Gatchalian is the one behind the questionable mining operations of the Atlai Philippines Mining Corp (APMC) in Sibuyan island. They claim that Gatchalian’s involvement in the mining company is through his son Kenneth, who is also a director of APMC’s parent firm . The same documents also showed Kenneth Gatchalian sits as chairman of Wellex Mining Corporation, one of the 23 mining firms ordered closed in February 2017 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under then Secretary Regina Lopez .

Kenneth Gatchalian is the brother of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and recently appointed DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

A few days ago, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ordered the mining firm to stop operations of APMC due to lack of permits, among other reasons. Other environmental advocates shared aerial photos which have shown that the firm has already done enough damage, showing that they have already mined some portions of Sibuyan island despite not having an environmental clearance certificate.

This development would not have surfaced in the national consciousness “if not for the local residents blocking roads to stop trucks carrying illegally extracted soil and logs from leaving the island.”

Some colleagues of Sen. Sherwin Gathalian were euphoric on the appointment of Mr. Rexlon to DSWD. The support of the senators on Mr. Gachalian’s appointment to the DSWD insidiously promote a false dichotomy between urban and rural areas from the lens of environmental protection. One senator even prophesized that the new DSWD head “will hopefully bring disaster risk reduction to DSWD as he knows that as congressman, and former mayor of Valenzuela, a vulnerable city,”. Yet he is the same individual that belongs to a family that willfully violated the law leading to the damage of a paradise island for profits in a rural area.

Reactionary pundits will always assert that the sin of the father is not the sin of the son. But the fact remains that the Gachalian family runs a business conglomerate. In this case, it is their company that is starting to destroy the environment with possible aftermath of disasters and calamities.

The reactionary class has always mastered the art of double-speak.

**************************

Environmental group refutes APMC

 By Bella Cariaso – The Manila Times

February 14, 2023

An environmental group on Monday contradicted the claim of Altai Philippines Mining Corp. (APMC) that it is operating legally in Romblon’s Sibuyan Island.

In an interview with The Manila Times, Living Laudato Si’ Philippines executive director Rodne Galicha maintained that APMC’s exploration permit does not justify its violation of various laws in the country.

“The MPSA (mineral production sharing agreement) is not stand-alone. It is not a sweeping contract. It has terms and conditions. It is not a constitution for them to claim that they have the permit so they can do whatever they want,” Galicha said.

In a paid advertisement, the APMC said that it has a “DENR-approved exploration work program.”

“One of the conditions was for them to follow the existing laws. They need to secure the necessary permits,” Galicha said.

In his letter to Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga dated Feb. 10, 2023, Galicha pushed for the revocation of the exploration permit and the MPSA of APMC in Romblon amid the alleged violations committed by the mining company.

Galicha cited the abuses of APMC including its failure to secure permits for the tree cutting and the construction of a causeway, as well as the lack of environmental compliance certificate in constructing a private port.

In a separate radio interview, Galicha also challenged the local government of San Fernando, Romblon to disclose the earnings derived from the mining operation after the APMC’s statement claimed that it contributed revenues to the municipality.

“We are challenging the municipality of San Fernando and even Altai to disclose all those contributions given to anyone that will prove that they actually provided revenues. The revenues from fisheries, agriculture and tourism are still bigger compared to the earnings from the mining operation,” he added.

At the same time, Galicha said that the local government should not have allowed the two barges and a ship of APMC to leave Sibuyan Island amid its violations.

“Our position is that the two barges and the ship should be impounded for illegal docking at the port, including the trucks used in transporting the nickel ore, as they were accessories to the illegal activities in the area,” Galicha noted.

Galicha also branded as lies the claim of APMC that the Sibuyan Island was already in poor environmental condition prior to the mining operation.

“That is a big lie as the island is known for its rich biodiversity. That is illogical and fallacious,” he said.

According to Galicha, the APMC’s call for an impartial investigation undermines the authority of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Senate.

“The DENR should be alarmed by this statement as it is an insult to the competence of DENR personnel,” he added.

The Senate is set to investigate the alleged violations committed by APMC after Sen. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros filed a resolution calling on the upper chamber to look into the mining operation in Romblon.

At the same time, Galicha also answered APMC’s statement that it is not owned by political personalities after reports that the family of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian owns the mining company.

“What we are saying is that it is a Gatchalian led, in particular Kenneth Gatchalian, who is the second biggest shareholder of Pelican Resources Australia that has the control over Altai Philippines Mining Corp. through the Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corp.” Galicha explained.

Kenneth Gatchalian is the brother of the senator.

Galicha said that the APMC operates over 1,580 hectares of land in Sibuyan covering 3.4 percent of the total 445 square kilometer area in the island.

The DENR has suspended the operation of APMC as the former’s Environmental Management Bureau issued notices of violation to APMC for violation of Section 4 of Presidential Decree 1586 or the “Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System,” Republic Act (RA) 6969 or the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990,” RA 9275 or the “Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004,” and Presidential Decree 705 for cutting trees without a permit.

Galicha added that the human barricade will continue on the island after it started on Jan. 26, 2023.

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