31 years of Death of Mogpog river Commemoration, Victims keep stronger, 23 years after filing case vs. Marcopper
Mogpog, Marinduque – Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC) recently commemorated the December 6, 1993 Maguilaguila dam collapse which flooded the town of Mogpog prior to the 1996 Boac River disaster. Days before the Immaculate Conception feast day of the capital town of Marinduque, the Mogpog river flooded the town with mine tailings.
The survivors of the mining collapse are still holding the line after filining a complaint against the Marinduque Copper Corporation. MACEC have their members are still seeking justice from Placer Dome and Barrick Gold which became the recent reiteration of the mining company. Having attended the general assembly for Rights of Nature last November 20 and 21, which launched the campaign for Rivers, Lakes and Seas.
Some of MACEC’s slogan, “Hustisya para sa mga Biktima, Marcopper/ Placer Dome/ Barrick Gold Papanagutin; Hustisya para sa Ilog ng Mogpog; Marcopper Pagbayarin, Mogpog River Buhayin; Pamahalaang Panlalawigan, Manindigan para sa mga Biktima at Kalikasan; Declare Marinduque a mining-free zone; and Mga pinuno naming, bundok, ilog, dagat wag sirain, kalikasan buhay natin.”
Meanwhile, the Legal Rights and Natural resources center expressed their support, “Nakikiisa po sa inyo, kasabay-latuwang sa laban. Kayo ang inspirasyon. Mabagal man ang daloy ng hustisya, patuloy po nating ipagdiinan ito. Ingat po kayo lagi at ingatan ang inyong kalusugan.”
MACEC also implored the local government not to abandone the plight of the Mogpogueños in particular and Marinduqueños in general. They are also still hoping for a declaration of Mining-free zone. In the end, they also expressed utmost gratitude for Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc, Alyansa Tigil Mina, Mining Watch Canada, Environmental Legal Assistance Center. They thanked them, “Salamat sa mga tunay na kakampi.” # Randy T. Nobleza
