An environmental network has accused powerful political families of profiting from corruption and destructive mining operations that have left communities flooded and impoverished.

At the launch of its Mining Hell Week campaign, the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) demanded accountability from political dynasties allegedly involved in both the misuse of public funds and environmentally harmful mining projects.

Malou Verano, of the ATM Council of Leaders and Ang Aroroy ay Alagaan (4A), said the same politicians implicated in corruption scandals are also behind mining ventures blamed for environmental destruction.

“The politicians linked to the corruption in flood control projects are the same families heavily invested in mining projects that have caused flooding, environmental destruction, and human rights violations in communities,” Verano said.

ATM named the Romualdez and Villar families among those “holding powerful positions who must be made accountable in the corruption scandal as well as the devastation in mining-affected communities.”

Lawyer Alycca Villaruel, of the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC), said public officials continue to profit from mining while neglecting flood control infrastructure.

“Mining has caused severe flooding, yet government officials continue to profit from mining operations while robbing taxpayers of trillions and depriving them of reliable flood control infrastructures,” Villaruel said. “This is grossly unjust and highly contemptible.”

Verano cited Aroroy, Masbate, where residents blame large-scale mining for floods that regularly submerge communities during typhoons.

“Mining has exacerbated the impacts of these climate change disasters as our communities become submerged in floods,” she said. 

Jorelyn Viray, from LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights), said mining has fueled harassment, red-tagging, and violence in affected areas.

“In many mining communities, residents are red-tagged, harassed, and even killed with impunity,” Viray said.

She noted that more than half of mining projects are within ancestral domains, placing Indigenous women under greater strain.

“Indigenous women are particularly made vulnerable as their sources of food and livelihood have been ravaged,” she said. “It is the rural and indigenous women who have to go out and find ways to make ends meet and put food on the table. This additional burden … is taking its toll on their physical and mental health.”

In a statement to ATM, Prof. Cielo Magno of Bantay-Kita criticized the newly enacted Mining Fiscal Regime Law, saying it favors corporate interests pushed by former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“The concessions to mining corporations have caused the loss of potential government revenues, which could instead be used for social services,” Magno said. 

Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña, meanwhile, urged Congress to repeal the Mining Act and pass the Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB).

“The current flawed Mining Act has to be repealed and replaced by a new law that will rationalize mining in the country and protect our natural resources and mining-affected communities,” said Cendaña.