A Sibuyan Island man tries to stop a mining truck from passing. Friday, February 3, 2023. (Photo from Alyansa Tigil Mina)
MANILA, Philippines — At least two people were hurt after the human barricade that Sibuyan residents formed to stop mining operations was breached by local authorities on Friday, said environmental group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM).
Sibuyan residents have set up a human barricade due to the allegedly illegal mining operations there after the Altai Philippines Mining Company failed to show protesters the required legal documents to operate.
READ: Sibuyan folk join forces, form human wall to halt mining work
“Two were hurt after Sibuyonon defenders try to block mining trucks in entering the private port. Three trucks with nickel ores passed through the barricade today,” said ATM in a Facebook post.
WATCH: At least two people were hurt after Sibuyan residents attempted to stop mining trucks from entering a private port, said the Alyansa Tigil Mina.
"Three trucks with nickel ores passed through the barricade today", said the group. | 📹: Alyansa Tigil Mina via @JMangaluzINQ pic.twitter.com/LXJ3mtffSz
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 3, 2023
The group sent Inquirer.net a video showing the dispersal of the human barricade. A woman could be heard repeatedly screaming “Lord”, as the police pushed into the human wall, scattering the protestors.
A man could be seen trying to single-handedly block the trucks, and police officials pulled him out of the way to allow the mining trucks to pass.
Inquirer.net has contacted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the issue and is awaiting the agency’s response.