Anti-Mining Priest Appointed to Church's Social Action Arm

MANILA, February 18, 2010-A CATHOLIC priest who has marched with peasants and indigenous peoples in street protests is filling an important position in the Church's social action apostolate.

Early this February, a priest in charge of Calapan's Mangyan Missions has been appointed to the Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace (ECSA,JP) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) which is often referred to as the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA).

As the new executive secretary, Fr. Edwin Gariguez is going to work closely with his chair Bishop Broderick Pabillo, a very dynamic figure in the church's social action advocacies.

Pabillo is known to be active in many social issues from human rights, environment to the ongoing debate on poll automation.

He is usually seen in anti-mining protests and squatters in urban Manila protesting against demolitions and forced evictions.

The bishop also served as one of the mediators for protesting Sumilao farmers who have been urging the government to return their land to them.

Gariguez will succeed Sr. Roseanne Malillin, SPC, who has served for nearly 17 years.

Gariguez, known as "Fr. Edu" to his community, is 47 years old and was ordained priest last April 7, 1993.

Originally from Malinao Ilaya in Atimonan, Quezon, he was incardinated to the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan.

Last November, Gariguez led some 25 protesters in a 9-day hunger strike to denounce the issuance of an environmental clearance for the nickel-extraction project of a Norwegian mining company in the province due to lack of public consultation.

Those who staged the hunger strike in front of the Department of Natural Resources main office include 16 members of the Mangyan tribes, seven Mindoro residents and another priest.

Due to intense pressure, the DENR suspended the environmental clearance it issued to the Intex Resources last Nov. 26 pending an independent investigation.

Gariguez was also closely associated with an anti-mining activist who was killed recently in Victoria town, Mindoro Occidental.

Gariguez believe politics and mining were behind the death of Ricardo Ganad, 56.

Ganad was chairman of the Association of Barangay Captains in Victoria and a founding member of Alliance against Mining (ALAMIN).

The priest said the killing brought fear to other anti-mining advocates. He called on government officials to immediately resolve the murder. (Melo M. Acuña)