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First Posted on Inside Mindanao: June 20, 2007

TVI exec apologizes to Subanon tribe
for human rights violations
committed by company
By Ellen Red

SIOCON, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE-Vice president for social commitments of TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc., Feliece Yeban, has asked forgiveness from the Subanon tribe for the human rights violations committed by TVI.

TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc., an affiliate of the Canadian mining company TVI Pacific, Inc., has a government permit to mine about 500 hectares in sitio Canatuan, barangay Tabayo, Siocon town, Zamboanga del Norte.

The Subanon tribe, on the other hand, was issued a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) covering about 8,000 hectares in Siocon. The CADT covers the entire mining area of TVI.

TVI has plans to expand its mining operations in Siocon. The company has applied for mining exploration in about 4,000 hectares in the mountains of Siocon.

During the community consultative assembly of the Subanon tribe held in sitio Paduan, barangay Candiz, Siocon town last June 17, Miss Yeban said, "Kung sakali man po na sa inyong palagay ay nag-violate ng human rights and kompanya, bagamat wala na po sa kompanya itong mga tao na nag-violate ng human rights; ipagpaumanhin po ninyo (If in your opinion, the company [TVI] has committed human rights violations, although those who had committed human rights violations are no longer connected with the company [TVI]; please forgive us)."

Miss Yeban added that they are not hiding the fact that TVI stands accused of various cases of human rights violations.

As a response to the call of forgiveness of Miss Yeban, Onsino Mato, one of the Subanon traditional leaders in Siocon, said, "Dili lang didto taman (It does not end there [asking for forgiveness)."

In 2001, Mr. Mato accused TVI of committing atrocities against the Subanon tribe before the 19th Session of the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Switzerland. Among the issues raised before the UN by Mr. Mato are the following:

1. Militarization and acts of violence and intimidation;
2. Establishment of checkpoints and blockade on the entry of food and other basic necessities; and
3. Disrupting travel from farm to market road.