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Veteran anti-mining activist dies

MANKAYAN, Benguet (Feb. 25) — Veteran activist Lakay Alipio Pasiteng, who has been at the forefront of opposing Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation’s (LCMC) expansion projects passed away this week at the age of seventy four.

Community organizations in this mining town will gather on Feb. 28 in Brgy. Bulalacao in this town in tribute and recognition for his contributions and heroic leadership that helped strengthen community unity despite threats and harassments by LCMCo-Lepanto Mine Division and its cohorts.

The tribute will be led by the community of Brgy. Bulalacao in Mankayan, to be participated by various people’s organizations he was part of, such as the Barangay Bulalacao Movement (BBM), Mankayan Leaders Forum (MLF), Mankayan Against Lepanto Expansion (MALEX), Colalo Residence Organization) (CRO), Danggayan Dagiti Maseknan nga Umili ti Mankayan (DAMAYAN), and the Mankayan, Quirino, Tadian, Cervantes Danggayan a Gunglo (MAQUITACDEG).

Lakay Alipio Pasiteng, popularly known as Ama Alibcang by the people of Mankayan, was MAQUITACDEG’s adviser before his death. His remains lie at their ancestral home in Bulalacao after he was brought home from the Saint Louis Hospital in Baguio City where he was rushed earlier.

“Maka-umili ken naprinsipyoan a takder”

MAQUITACDEG leaders narrate that Lakay Pasiteng’s participation in anti-large scale mining activities dated back to the 70s. His participation intensified in the 1990s when Daimond Drilling Corporation tried to conduct massive drilling operations in their village.

Being a leader of their organization and elder of his community, Lakay Pasiteng never hesitated to serve the people by leading his members and the community to stop the drillings despite threats and harassment from the military and the police. Authorities even threatened to sue him for leading the protests against the drillings.

“Nalabes unayen ti araramiden ti kompanya a Lepanto iti panangdadael na iti ili tayo a Mankayan. No mabalin, isardeng da koma dayta nga expansion da. Kasanonto ti masakbayan dagiti anak ken apo mi. Uston dayta nasurok 66 years nga negosyo da a minas ditoy ili mi.Ginundawayan ken inusar da laeng ti kinabaknang ti ili mi tapno agpabaknang da. Kasukat daytoy ti adun nga naksaksakit a paspasamak ken didigra inted na kadakami nga umili kas iti panakapukaw ti danum, panakarsood ti ili, panakapoison ti angina, dagiti adu a kaso ti sinking ken panakabetak dagiti pagardenan ken residential a lote. Adu pay dagiti naapektaran nga umili a pagayusan ti rugit ken basura dayta a kompanya ti Lepanto. Mabiag kami kas umili ti Manakayan uray awan dayta a pagminasan basta saan a mapukaw ti danum ken madadael dagiti bantay ken kaarayan mi”, (Lepanto is doing worse damage to our town of Mankayan. If possible, they should stop their expansion. What is the future of our children and grandchildren? Sixty six years of mining business here in our village is enough. They only exploited our resources to enrich themselves. This, in exchange of painful experiences and calamities like water shortage, land erosion, air poisoning, sinking and cracks in gardens and residential lots. There are more people affected by the dirt and garbage of the Lepanto Company. We people of Mankayan will survive even without the mines and as long as the water does not disappear and our mountains and rivers are not damaged.), said Ama Alibcong in his past interviews.

Ironically, in defense of community interests, Ama Alibcang and two other BBM leaders were charged with two cases by the Municipal Trial Court (MTC). These cases include alleged violation of a municipal ordinance against illegal assembly and violation of the provision of RA 7942 (Mining Act of 1995) on the obstruction of mining activities. Another civil case, a temporary restraining order (TRO) was filed at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Buguias town by LCMC against the three, also in 1998.The cases filed against them aimed to weaken the villagers’ strong opposition, claims Denver Tongngacan, who is now president of this town’s Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) and chairperson of MAQUITACDEG.

The cases filed against the three dragged on for several years, but with his determination and the community’s full support, Ama Alibcang and the other accused leaders won the case against LCMCo-LMD.

“Had the court convicted Lakay Pasiteng, they would have convicted a principled and respected community elder who was only exercising his rights and duties to defend his ancestral land and welfare of his people, claims Xavier Akien, secretary-general of MAQUITACDEG. Under indigenous socio-political systems, it is but legal to defend your ancestral land from encroachment, he added.

Sharpened political views

Lakay Pasiteng’s involvement in the struggle against large scale mining sharpened his political views, added Windel Bolinget of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA).

Lakay Pasiteng played a significant role in the series of municipal environmental summits relative to the devastating impact of the copper and gold mining operations of the LCMCo-LMD. As a community spokesperson, he confidently discussed large scale mining as development aggression that destroys and exploits community resources.

“Ti arapaap ko a ket sumardeng ti dakkel a panagminas tapno haan a mariribuk ti umili” (My vision is that large scale mining should be stopped so that the communities will not always be threatened.), he claims in an interview by the ABC 5 Probe Team last December 2004.

Tribute to Lakay Pasiteng

On Feb. 28, community leaders will gather in the Pasiteng residence in Bulalacao. The gathering aims to share the life and heroic role of the elder in the anti-mining movement and reflect lessons from it for their future endeavor. Testimonies from friends and families and condolence messages will be read and heard.

“Lakay Pasiteng will be remembered for his simple yet meaningful ideas and determined action for the defense of the ancestral land and resources. His principled and uncompromising stand serves as an inspiration to young generations and organizations, within the Municipalities of Quirino, Cervantes, Mankayan and Tadian to further pursue their resistance against LCMC expansion,” ended Akien.

Lakay Pasiteng is survived by his wife Martina Caslangen and their 10 children. # Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS

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