Operasyon ng mining company sa Sibuyan sinuspinde ng DENR; mga pulis mananagot sa pagbuwag sa barikada

IPINAG-UTOS ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ang pagpapatigil sa operasyon ng mining company sa Sibuyan island, Romblon dahil sa ilang violations.

Base sa ‘notice of violation’ na ipinalabas ng DENR-Mimaropa Environment Bureau, lumabag ang Altai Philippines Mining Corporation (APMC) sa implementing rules and regulations ng Water Code of the Philippines.

Sinabi ng DENR na walang ‘foreshore lease agreement’ ang APMC para sa pier, nagtayo ng causeway ng walang ‘Environmental Compliance Certificate’, at nagputol ng mga puno ng walang permit.

Samantala, nagpulong ang gobyerno at company officials, maging mga lokal upang talakayin ang sitwasyon.

“Nakapag-release naman ang DENR ng order na… at nakapagpaskil na ipatigil muna ang operation ng Altai dito. Dahil sa napakaraming violations,” pahayag ni Elizabeth Ibanez ng Sibuyanon Against Mining.

Samantala, matapos tangkain ng mga pulis nitong Biyernes na gibain ang barikadang inilagay ng mga nagpoprotesta sa operasyon ng APMC, inihayag ni Area Police-Southern Luzon commander Lieutenant General Rhoderick Armamento na mananagot ang mga sangkot na pulis kapag inireklamo.

“Based on the reports, there were a few incidents involving our employees, law enforcement personnel, and protesters who were purportedly hurt when tensions got out of hand at the site,” ayon naman sa APMC.

“We are particularly distressed by the fact that the ideology of these protesters may not be as different from our company’s core values as it would seem. While the full and outright refusal of all mining operations is simply not realistic (nor economically sustainable), Altai Philippines Mining Corporation (APMC) is equally opposed to all forms of illegal, reckless, and irresponsible mining.”

“Given this, we categorically deny all allegations questioning the legality of our Sibuyan operations. Our company has secured all the necessary permits and licenses to lawfully and peacefully conduct our business in the area,” pahayag ng kompanya.

“Our right to operate is as inviolable as the right to peaceful protest and assembly. For that reason, we repeatedly reached out to the protesters to establish dialogue, and hopefully find common ground. We hoped that we could assure them that our activities are lawful and compliant to government requirements, and fully aligned with global best practices. Unfortunately, these efforts did not bear fruit,” patuloy nito.

Ang APMC ay pag-aari ng Gatchalians.