and Rural Development (ANGOC) published a 2015 research study on land conflicts and human rights violations in the Philippines. In this study, ANGOC presented data stating that the Philippines is third among countries with the highest number of deaths among land and environment defenders (Global Witness as cited in ANGOC et. al., 2015). Moreover, data from the Commission on Human Rights shows a total of 77 cases of agrarian/land-related conflicts (CHR as cited in ANGOC et. al., 2015). An example of a land right violation among agricultural farmers is the Agumil Case – the resistance of Aborlan Coco Farmers against a big oil palm company. Small coconut farmers entered into a contract to clear over 200 hectares of their farmlands for the entry of an oil palm company and accessed a PhP 13 million loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) for farm development. After 10 years of waiting, not a single centavo was earned and their loans ballooned to PhP 43 million (Salcedo, 2016). According to Mr. Renante Salcedo of the Institute of Land Governance (XSF-ILG), there are 11 other cooperatives that have signed the same agreement with the company and are likely to face the same fate in the future. Clearly, the company took advantage of the farmers’ inability to negotiate with investors and thoroughly review the contract. The farmers lost their lands, income, livelihood, and are experiencing security threats.6 3. Corporate operations displacing communities, curtailing livelihood and degrading the environment Irresponsible corporate and mining operations have been identified, warned, and issued closure orders by then Secretary Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). One of these companies is the Semirara Mining and Power Corporation operating at Caluya, Antique. The company has been asked to explain why it should not be held liable for several violations due to its operations in the province (Geronimo, 2016). The information used by the DENR to demand a show cause order from the mining company has been provided by the CHR. The CHR used the UNGPs on Business and Human Rights in conducting investigations and convening an inter-agency working group with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), among others. The table below lists a number of complaints resulting from the company’s mining operations: Complaints/Study Environmental Degradation* § Complaint from the community on black silt from the coal washing plant on 3 December 2008 § The west wall of the Panian Pit collapsed due to a landslide on 14 February 2013 § An incident that occurred at the northern edge of the Panian Coal Mine, resulting in the death of several workers in July 2015 (Rappler, 2015) § Massive clearing affecting the island ecosystem § Mangroves and portions of coastal areas lost through clearing, land reclamation, dumping of infill, and siltation due to run off § Degradation of water quality due to contaminants reaching nearby public § Increased particulate matter in the waters and ambient air § Siltation of the marine environment § Damage to coal areas due to infill dumping § Impacts on existing mangrove biodiversity due to infrastructure § Presence of toxic contaminants in the water, such as mercury § Displacement of local residents § Adverse impacts on local livelihoods § Unsafe working conditions that resulted to the death of workers § Loss of access to water source by existing communities *Source: Report of investigation conducted on 15-17 April 2009 as published by Rappler. Interview with Renante Salcedo, ILG Coordinator, 15 February 2017. 6 9