SEN. Ana Theresia 'Risa' Hontiveros on Saturday urged the Senate to immediately hear Proposed Senate Resolution 459 to investigate the issues surrounding the mining operations on Sibuyan Island to establish the accountabilities and responsibilities as soon as possible.

Hontiveros made the statement after her dialogue with Sibuyanons who have set up a barricade to protest against the operations of Altai Philippines Mining Corp. in Sibuyan.

'It may be about time to evict these illegal miners once and for all. I personally saw what they call the illegal causeway. There should be a cease and desist order on the operation, but when I went there, it was clear that there are still movements in the area,' Hontiveros said.

'It is also important to determine the role of the police and the LGU, not only in the mining operations but also in the occurrence of violence in the area,' she urged.

During the dialogue, Hontiveros, together with Atty. Jose Manuel 'Chel' Diokno answered questions from the residents, some of whom were calling for disciplinary actions against the local police involved in the scuffle.

'I join the residents in condemning the violence perpetrated against them during their peaceful protest. The mountains of Sibuyan and its residents should never be scared again,' she emphasized.

'I am calling on my colleagues to open the probe in the Senado in order to establish the accountability of those who are really responsible in the issue. The residents should not be made to wait, especially now that they're already in the week of barricading the area. Two have already been injured simply because of resisting the mining operations. In 2007, Councilor Armin Marin was murdered for his campaign against the mining in Sibuyan,' she added.

In the dialogue, the residents also questioned the lenient punishment for Altai's violations, adding that stricter penalties should be imposed on the mining company. According to the residents, besides operating illegally, Altai also destroyed corals and plant species endemic to the island.

Sibuyan's distinction as the 'Galapagos of Asia' as well as the exceptionally high number of endemic flora and fauna, residents are also calling for Sibuyan to be declared as a 'no-go zone' for mining.

'The DENR and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau need to study this 'no-go zone' proposal. Once my resolution is heard, the agencies will need to discuss and conclusively state whether or not extractive activities must be prohibited on Sibuyan,' Hontiveros said.

In the Alternative Minerals Management Bill authored by Hontiveros, the senator also proposes that 'mining in environmentally critical areas such as small island ecosystems, primary and secondary forests, and watersheds shall be banned.'

'Various stakeholders should be called in the Senate investigation. The DENR, MGB, LGU and PNP, among others, should properly answer the cries of the Sibuyanons,' Hontiveros stressed.