Illegal mining as golf course

I am Rolando Rea, a resident of Barangay Estanza, Lingayen, Pangasinan. At the age of 72 and suffering from glaucoma, my only wish now is to help my kababayan who have suffered several injustices, which began when the provincial government of Pangasinan allowed illegal black sand mining in our area in 2011.

I am writing this to seek help and continuous support for my advocacy to ensure that illegal black sand mining does not happen again in the coastal barangays of Sabangan, Malimpuec, Capandanan and Estanza.

My fellow residents in Lingayen have been silenced by the provincial government led by Gov. Amado Espino Jr., who has resorted to intimidation and harassment to suppress the truth about the illegal magnetite mining that happened supposedly within the area of a proposed

18-hole golf course along the four coastal barangays.

Co-complainants in the case have been won over by the Espino camp. Even the local media in Pangasinan have not been excluded from insidious means to prevent them from ferreting out the truth. Thus, I seek the support of Manila-based media to help fight for our cause against black sand mining in Lingayen.

I am now alone in this fight, and I have been receiving death threats because of my continued advocacy against black sand mining, which is destroying an environmentally critical area, the Lingayen Gulf. This is also a crusade against abuse of power by local officials.

The black sand separator used to quarry five hectares of coastal area in my province is still in Barangay Malimpuec, along with the magnetite stockpile.

The provincial government has also erected a three-kilometer-long, six-foot-tall concrete wall to prevent residents from seeing the illegal mining activities disguised as a golf course project. The wall likewise prevents residents from venturing to the sea. The environmental compliance certificate issued for the golf course does not include the wall as a component of the project, yet the provincial government refuses to tear it down.

The complaint that we have filed has already resulted in the dismissal of provincial administrator Rafael Baraan and Alvin Bigay, head of the Provincial Housing Urban Development Council Office, for grave misconduct. But the battle still continues.

I am an old man now. There are times when my eyesight fails me because of glaucoma. I know that my life has been placed in danger because of my advocacy.

But there is nothing for me to lose and everything to gain—not just for me but also for my kababayan if these illegal acts are exposed.

This is why I am sending this letter to the Inquirer. I believe journalism’s main role is not only to tell the truth, but also to give voice to the marginalized, including senior citizens, like me. I know that with the support of the Inquirer, we who are powerless and voiceless have a better chance of being heard on a level playing field.

May the Inquirer continue to side with people like me, people like us in Lingayen, and continue to live up to its slogan of “balanced news, fearless views.”

—ROLANDO REA, [email protected]