They stood up, shouted “no to mining exploration” but were ignored. The 500 B’laan and T’boli who gathered in Sityo Tablo, Barangay Maan, T’boli, South Cotabato deeply resented the National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP) for suddenly cancelling what was supposed to be a consultation for the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) on August 22. The Marbel diocese’s Social Action Center said the NCIP did not give any reason for the sudden cancellation. The agency is clearly not ready to listen to them.

In the SAC report, the B’laan and T’boli endured the heat of the sun, hunger and thirst in the site’s open court to participate and show their opposition to any mining application in their area. The NCIP-promoted FPIC is related to the Mining Exploration Permit Application of 88 Kiamba Mining and Development Corporation for at least 4,235 hectares in the barangays of Maan and Basag in the town of T’boli.

The B’laan and T’boli communities have already filed petitions in the Sangguniang Pambarangay of Basag and Maan on August 20 and 21 against mining. These petitions were signed by 1,372 residents of Barangay Basag and 1,892 residents of Barangay Maan. These petitions are supported by the Marbel diocese and environmental groups. They stand, along with minorities, against environmentally destructive activities and development aggression in protected areas and forests.

The 88 Kiamba Mining and Development Corporation is run by Mohamad T. Aquia, a personality allegedly close to the Pacquiaos of Saranggani. He became the leader of Oplan Kalikasan when Manny Pacquiao was governor in the province. He also served as the head of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group in Mindanao in 2010.