More than 700 community leaders from Cabañas celebrated the country's victory in approving the law against metallic mining. In a unifying public forum, “Defending the Right to Say No to Metallic Mining,” the community reasserted its defense of the recently approved law prohibiting metallic mining.

The Governor of Nueva Vizcy, Phillipines, Carlos Padilla; the lawyer heading the defense of the state in the lawsuit against the company Pacific Rim-Oceana Gold, Luis Parada; researcher at the University of Central America (UCA), Andres Mackinley; the Bishop of San Vicente, Monseñor Elías Rauda; the governor of Cabañas, Gloria Saravia de Molina; environmentalist and president of ADES, Vidalina Morales; representative from the Ministry of Health in Cabañas, Ismael Hernandez and Margarita Posada, representative from the National Health Forum, participated in the event.

The governor of Nueva Vizcaya, Carlos Padilla, shared how “Responsible Mining,” driven by Oceana Gold, has wreaked havoc in his province of Nueva Vizcaya.

“In the Philippines they arrived with the promise of Responsible Mining, they installed it, and they have ruined whole mountains, they have contaminated rivers, and have cut down thousands of trees… and we ask ourselves: where is the responsible mining that you were talking about?... I celebrate with you the victory of having achieved a law that prohibits metallic mining, we have stopped the project but still don’t have the the law,” he expressed.

Margarita Posada of the National Health Forum, expressed that now more than ever it is necessary to defend the achievements we’ve reached. We must be alert because now “unconstitutionality” is fashionable, and if anyone tried to declare the law unconstitutional, there are people who are going to defend it.”