NPA attacks 2 other mines

MANILA,Philippines—The communist New People’s Army also bombed the pier of the Taganito Mining Corp. and placed bombs inside the premises of the mining firm in Claver, Surigao del Norte, after it burned several equipment and took four hostages on Monday, the latest report from the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

According to the latest report, aside from the Taganito Mining Corp, two other firms were also attacked—the Platinum Group Metals Corp. and the THPAL Mining Company—by the communist rebels. No details were made available.

PNP Spokesman Chief Superintended Agrimero Cruz Jr. said that the PNP received reports that the Taganito Mining Corp. was attacked by Guerrilla Force (GF)-16 led by one Artem or Domeng, along with two other groups believed to be GF-21 and GF-30.

The equipment burned included 10 dump trucks, eight backhoes, two barges and a guest house owned by the Taganito Mining Corp., Cruz Jr. said.

Troops in Patrol Base of the 132nd Regional Public Safety Company, 13th Regional Public Safety Batallion, and the Philippine Army were still engaged in blocking forces of the rebel group.

No casualties from the said troops were reported.

Firefight was still ongoing as of early evening on Monday, according to Cruz.

multinational mining firms operating in Claver, Surigao del Norte, on Monday morning

Communist New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas staged simultaneous raids on two multinational mining firms operating in Claver, Surigao del Norte, on Monday morning.

The NPA attacks came days after a rebel leader in Mindanao called on his followers to dismantle “environmentally-exploitative and destructive large-scale mining companies” operating in Caraga Region.

The TMC and PGMC are among the country’s leading exporters of nickel ore to Japan, China and Australia.