Duterte wants licenses of mining firms supplying explosives to Reds revoked

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. JOEY DALUMPINES/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to revoke the licenses of mining companies that are supplying explosives to communist rebel groups.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte gave the instruction during the National Security Council Executive Committee meeting in Malacañang on Monday and ended before dawn Tuesday.

“The President directed the Department of Environment and National Resources to revoke the licenses, permits of mining companies violating explosive handling rules or reported to be supplying explosives to Communist Terrorist groups,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

The “military and police who also found violating laws and explosives will face automatic expulsion,” he added.

Duterte threatened in November 2017 that mining companies paying revolutionary taxes to the New People’s Army would face closure.

READ: Firms paying revolutionary taxes to NPA face closure – Duterte

In December 2017, Duterte signed Proclamation No. 374, declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as a terrorist group. /je

READ: Duterte declares CPP, NPA as terrorist organizations