Investigation of Conflicting or Adverse Claims, Protests or Other Kinds of Opposition Involving Mining Claims, etc,

October 11, 1973

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 135

 

1. There shall be created a panel of investigators composed of three lawyers, whom I shall appoint upon the recommendation of the Director of Mines, to investigate and make reports and recommendations concerning conflicting or adverse claims, protests or other kinds of opposition involving mining claims, rights, leases or permits.

2. The hearing of such conflicts shall be conducted within one (1) week after issues are joined. The investigation shall be summary in nature, if possible to be finished within one sitting. The report and recommendations of the investigators shall be submitted to the Director of Mines within five (5) days from the termination of the investigation, and the Director shall decide the case within five (5) days from the submission of such report. aisa dc

3. All claimants to any mines subject of litigation now pending with the Bureau of Mines, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Office of the President or before any judicial tribunal shall be given a period of fifteen (15) days after one publication in any daily newspaper of general circulation throughout the Philippines of these amendment to Letter of Instructions 119 dated August 25, 1973 and of the list of litigations, conflicts, claims or any case whatsoever involving right to possession, lease, exploration, exploitation of any mining claims in any part of the Philippines to file an adverse claim of any nature whatsoever with the Bureau of Mines.

For the purpose of expediting the exploration and exploitation of our mineral resources, the proceedings above-described will be so conducted so that the case so heard by the Director of Mines and/or through the Panel of Investigators shall be a final adjudication of rights over mining claim or claims subject of litigations and conflicts including the exploration and exploitation thereof.

No judicial conflict directly or indirectly involving the mining claims the subject of this Letter of Instruction shall in any manner suspend, prejudice, or adversely affect the continuation of the possession, exploration or exploitation of the mining claim by the party in whose favor such possession, exploration or exploitation has been awarded by the Bureau of Mines or the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources or the Office of the President; Provided, however, that the rules and regulations embodied in Mines Administrative Order No. 50 pertaining to the deposit in escrow of the prescribed percentage of the proceeds of the gross sales of the production of the mining claims for the protection of the interests of the party to whom the mining claim is ultimately and finally awarded, shall be complied with. acd

4. There shall likewise be created a panel of investigators in the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, similarly to be appointed by me upon the recommendation of the Secretary, where further investigation may be deemed warranted in connection with appeals from decisions or orders of the Director of Mines involving claims or rights, subject to the same requirements and limitations applicable to the panel of investigators in the Bureau of Mines.

5. Any party not satisfied with the decision or order of the Director of Mines may, within five (5) days from receipt thereof, appeal to the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources who shall render his decision within five (5) days from receipt of the appeal or submission of the report of the Department panel of investigators, as the case may be. From the decision of the Secretary, an appeal may be taken within five (5) days to the President whose decision shall be final and executory.

The decision of the Director of Mines shall be immediately executory, notwithstanding the appeal, unless the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources or the President directs otherwise.

6. The members of the panel of investigators shall, as such as possible, be relieved of their ordinary duties in the course of the investigation and preparation of their report.

7. The Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, upon the recommendation of the Director of Mines, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement and render more effective this Letter of Instructions. cdt

All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, in conflict or inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 11th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Three.