The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has ordered the removal of private armed guards hired by a mining firm that has been declared illegally operating in the town of Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur.
Leo Jasareno, chief of the DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), said he wrote a letter to the chief of the Zamboanga City police asking for help in “removing high-powered firearms” in the town.
“We have asked them to help in addressing the complaint of (Zamboanga del Sur) Gov. Antonio Cerilles,” he said.
Cerilles was one of two governors in the Zamboanga Peninsula who vowed to block the confirmation by the Commission on Appointments of Environment Secretary Ramon Paje for failing to resolve the issue.
Jasareno said he was told that private security firm AY76 has been giving heavy firearms, including Russian made
AK-47s, to its security guards.
The area, which is the subject of a conflict between two mining firms, also has military personnel guarding it to prevent violence between the warring parties, Jasareno said.
Two companies—Bayog 9 Metals and Lupah Pigegetawan Mining—have contesting claims on the land. AY76 is employed by Lupah, which has been declared illegally operating in the area by the provincial government.
The land in Bayog is subject to iron mining exploration.
Community life in Bayog town has been disrupted because of the conflict. Jasareno said children have become afraid to go to school because of the presence of armed guards.
A Lupah document obtained by Inquirer showed one of its owners is a Manuel Go of Cebu Mining and Management Corp., which has a partnership with China Metallurgical Group for Mineral Resources and Development.
MGB had shut down Lupah’s operations because it violated its exploration permit.
Mayor Leonardo Babasa has reported that Lupah continued its operations despite the cease order from MGB. He has assailed the firm for disrespect of the laws.
“They don’t even have clearance,” he said.
Albert Johann Jacildo, MGB director for Western Mindanao, admitted receiving reports of Lupah’s renewed operation despite the April 15 cease and desist order on actual mining activities.
A tribal chieftain said military officials were using Subanens as dummies in operating a mining company.
Lucenio Manda, of the Pigsalabukan Gukom de Bayog and chair of Conacon village, said in a previous report that the military officials also intimidated them by fielding heavily armed security personnel under AY76.
“The situation made us sleepless and wary of things to come,” Manda has been quoted as saying. With a report from Inquirer Mindanao