Siocon Subanon Association Inc. Scores Two Cases Against TVI
Published by MAC on 2003-02-14
Siocan Subanon Association Inc. (SSAI) Scores Two Cases Against TVI
Source: DCMI, Philippines,
February 14 2003
Sitio Canatuan, Tabayo, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
Two cases filed by Toronto Ventures Inc (TVI) a Canadian mining firm against the legal and legitimate holder of Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claim (CADC) were dismissed a week ago hearing here for the company's failure to attend hearing three times and establish jurisdiction.
In a recent court hearing, the Regional Trial Court dismissed the indirect contempt filed by the company against the community when alleged of defying the court order to stop from preventing the company's drilling equipment in 1999, because of the company's failure to attend three times hearing.
The judge also dismissed the illegal construction filed by the company against the Small Scale Miners who engaged small scale mining activities over the area because of the company's failure to establish the Regional Trial Court's jurisdiction over the case.
In 1999, the Indigenous People staged a human barricade against the entry of drilling equipment of the TVI for exploration to satisfy its two Japanese investors.
But the company employed a violent action by using rattan sticks and rope then beatened up the picketers to disperse the barricade in order to give way for the drilling equipment.
At last, for around four years duration, the cases have been resolved, since the company was employing a delaying tactics by postponement, and changing lawyer when attending the hearing to ask another postponement.