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ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Sued for supporting indigenous communities in the fight against mining: Church representatives express solidarity with Bishop of Bayombong

Bayombong – Priests, religious, and lay people from the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino participated today in a peaceful march and prayer service organized by the Commission for Social Action of the Diocese of Bayombong, in the center of the Philippine island of Luzon. They expressed their solidarity with Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao of Bayombong and Father Christian Dumangeng, both of whom were charged and convicted in a lawsuit concerning mining activities in the Kasibu area. On June 23, a hearing was held at the Kasibu Municipal Court in the Philippine province of Nueva Vizcaya regarding a request for a preliminary injunction in the civil case against Bishop of Bayombong, Most Rev. Jose Elmer Mangalinao and other activists and environmentalists opposing a mining project in the area. The civil suit was filed by Rosario Camma, who identified himself as the “chief of the Bugkalot-Ilongot indigenous community.” At its core, however, the case revolves around the barricades erected by local communities against the exploration activities of the North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation in the ancestral lands of the indigenous population. Although the mining company is not listed as a plaintiff, the dispute is directly related to the mining project it is promoting. The defendant's lawyer, Fidel Santos, described the proceedings as a potentially "legal measure to intimidate environmentalists and opponents of mining." In recent days, the court had already rejected a request for police intervention, thus allowing the peaceful barricades erected by the local communities against mineral exploration to remain in place, at least until the injunction is issued. The controversy centers on the protest of the Bugkalot-Ilongot indigenous communities, whose territories are affected by a mining project. Archbishop Mangalinao affirmed that the Church's presence alongside the local communities is based on a pastoral, not a political, responsibility. “As bishop of this diocese,” he explained, “I feel a responsibility to stand with the poor, to defend the most vulnerable, and to give a voice to those whose voices often go unheard. This is not a political duty, but a pastoral one.” The bishop explained the reasons for his visit: “I went there to accompany them and offer them comfort.” He led a prayer service and emphasized that the Church would continue to listen to “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” Meanwhile, numerous church and academic organizations expressed their solidarity with the Bishop of Bayombong. Saint Mary’s University of Bayombong expressed its unwavering support for the diocese and Bishop Mangalinao, reaffirming its commitment to the integral human development, the protection of creation, and the promotion of social justice. The university emphasized the need to pay special attention to indigenous peoples, recalling that the land is a gift from God and their ancestors and an essential part of their cultural and spiritual identity. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines , which unites Catholic educational institutions in northern Luzon, also issued a statement expressing its support for the Bishop of Bayombong. The bishop's initiatives, CEAP stated, should not be interpreted as political acts, but rather as expressions of the Church's mission. "Solidarity with the poor, prayer with communities, and defense of God's creation are integral parts of the Gospel," the document reads. It also warns of the danger of legal instruments being misused to intimidate or silence those who advocate for environmental protection and the rights of local communities. CEAP reminds us that “caring for our common home” also encompasses human dignity, social justice, and the future of generations to come. It reaffirms its call for truth, justice, and the common good to prevail and emphasizes its commitment to educating young people who not only respect creation but also courageously protect it. Several representatives of the Philippine Church have expressed their support for the accused prelate. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan, praised Bishop Mangalinao, stating that the bishop “never lost the courage to defend what he considers vital for his people.” Archbishop Ricardo Baccay of Tuguegarao, President of the Episcopal Commission for Public Relations of the Catholic Church, also expressed his support for the accused prelate. The Philippine Bishops' Conference expressed its solidarity "with all those who courageously stand up for the protection of our common home" and recalled that caring for creation and all creatures is "a moral responsibility."

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