Probe Chinese smuggling in West Philippine Sea – Lacson

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Panfilo Lacson has called for an inquiry into mining operations in Zambales, particularly on the reported smuggling of soil and rocks by the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea.

In Senate Resolution 92, he seeks to look into the alleged exploitative activities harming the environment and posing serious threats to national security to the prejudice of Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“(The investigation has) the end in view of adopting remedial measures to strengthen our environmental protection and conservation laws and address the possible breach of our national security,” he said.

Lacson cited reports of destructive mining operations in Santa Cruz, Zambales, which have flattened mountains and damaged large areas of forested highlands.

Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso was also quoted as saying that the soil and rocks taken from these areas were shipped, dumped and used to reclaim almost 3,500 hectares of the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea. 

As early as November 2015, Lacson said that a source from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency was already saying that some mining firms were smuggling soil and rocks to build a chain of Chinese islands in the West Philippine Sea.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has formed a task force to look into the reported reclamation work.

Lacson said personalities behind these highly anomalous, illegal and treacherous acts must be held to account for destroying the environment and making a mockery of Philippine laws to the prejudice of the Filipino people and a possible breach of national security.

A physical assessment must also be undertaken across the affected areas to determine the extent of damage and the appropriate actions to rehabilitate them, he added.

Lacson said when Typhoon Lando hit the country in October 2015, mud from the mountain where large-scale mining occurred cascaded to the lowlands and left a trail of destruction. 

In 2011, former Zambales governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. issued small-scale mining permits to a mining firm allowing the illegal hauling of minerals from the province, he added.

Last year, the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Ebdane for graft, usurpation of government functions and mineral theft.