BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur—Guards of a mining firm that had been ordered closed for illegal operations have been ordered by their officers to stay put, raising tension in a village here and prompting residents to flee their homes.
Subanen residents started leaving their homes in Barangay Conacon after guards of AY76 Security Agency, hired by mining firm Lupa Pigegetawan (Lupa), refused to leave the area despite an order by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the provincial government shutting down the firm’s operations for lack of permit.
Lupa is owned by Manuel Go of Cebu Mining and Management Corp., which has a partnership with China Metallurgical Group for Mineral Resources and Development. Its president is Absalon Alcorin, a Mandaya from Davao.
According to Bayog Mayor Leonardo Babasa, Subanen residents were fleeing for fear that guards of Lupa would clash with those of another mining firm, Bayog 9 Metal Corp., which has obtained a license to operate in the area.
A cache of assault rifles, such as AK-47s and Armalites, had been turned over to police after they were seized from guards of AY76, authorities said.
However, guards of AY76 returned to the site with another set of firearms, mostly assault rifles.
Babasa said residents fear violence could flare up between guards of AY76 and 24 Oras, the security agency hired by Bayog 9, as Lupa illegally occupied a site licensed to Bayog.
Timuay Lucenio Manda, Conacon village chief, said at least 30 families had left for fear of getting caught in the crossfire.
He said the tension also stalled the opening of classes in the village’s primary and daycare schools as parents refused to send their children to their classes.
Babasa said he already ordered the town police, headed by Insp. Daniel Pel-Ey, to remove the guards of the two rival security agencies from Conacon “for the general welfare of the people and maintenance of peace and order.”
Pel-Ey said a notice had been served on managers of the two security agencies in the area.
Former Army Capt. Audie Tukloy, of AY76, said their order from retired Brig. Gen. Alexander Yapching, owner of AY76, was “to hold the line.”
Bayog 9 Metal representative Richard Lapira said their security forces would only leave Conacon once AY76 guards had left the area. Tito N. Fiel, Inquirer Mindanao