"SC orders Zambales mining firms to stop operations", 21 Jun 2016

The Supreme Court (SC) en banc…issued a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) against 5 mining firms operating in Zambales.

The TEPO comes with the writ of kalikasan issued by the High Court, which found merit in the petition filed by the residents of Santa Cruz town in Zambales, a province north of Manila…

The writ of Kalikasan may be sought to deal with environmental activities that threaten to bring damage to life, health, or property of residents in at least two localities. It is a legal remedy that is supported under the 1987 Constitution.

…[T]he residents, led by anti-mining advocate Concerned Citizens of Santa Cruz (CCOS), filed before the SC a petition for writ of kalikasan against the following mining firms:

• Benguet Corporation Nickel Mines Incorporated
• Eramen Minerals Incorporated
• LNL Archipelago Minerals Incorporated
• Zambales Diversified Metals Corporation
• Shangfil Mining and Trading Corporation

Also named as respondents are environmental and local officials.

The petitioners said mining operations have caused much destruction in the mountains, watershed, forests, farmlands, water systems and livelihood of all residents of Sta. Cruz and posed continuing threat to their lives…