Don’t stop digging! CA sides with Gatchalians’ Altai Mining in plea to halt Romblon ops
Bilyonaryo.com | May 24, 2024
(PHOTO: BILYONARYO.COM)
The Court of Appeals has rejected the request of Romblon residents to stop the Gatchalian family’s Altai Mining Philippines Corp. in Sibuyan Island.
The CA’s Sixth Division sided with the nickel mining firm in the petition for a writ of kalikasan filed by the Bantay Kalikasan ng Sibuyan.
Citing the need for a “stronger protection of environmental rights,” the group sought the legal remedy to stop Altai from further damaging the natural resources in the protected area.
The Bantay Kalikasan ng Sibuyan also filed a complaint against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau for allowing Altai Mining’s supposedly destructive activities.
The CA, however, said the petitioners failed to prove the need for the issuance of a writ of kalikasan.
“Far from being universal solutions in every case involving environmental damage, a writ of kalikasan is issued only when certain conditions are met, including the requirement of damage being of such magnitude as to prejudice the life, health, or property of inhabitants in two or more cities or provinces,” the CA’s resolution read.
The court also reprimanded the petitioners for forum shopping, or attempting to seek remedies from multiple courts in hopes of securing a favorable one.
Source: Bilyonaryo.com
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