Groups decry violent dispersal of barricade vs mining firm in Nueva Vizcaya
The Alyansa ng mga Novo Vizcano para sa Kalikasan says OceanaGold Philippines has made attempts to bring their fuel tanks to a site in Barangay Didipio – despite local resistance
By Kyle Aristophere Atienza
MANILA, Philippines – Several environmental groups decried the violent dispersal of a barricade against the attempted entry of a foreign-owned mining company’s fuel tanks in Barangay Didipio, Kasibu town, Nueva Vizcaya.
Amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon due to the coronavirus, residents sat on the ground – while following physical distancing – in front of a fuel tank to show their opposition to the entry of OceanaGold Philippines Inc (OGPI) on Monday, April 6.
In a video posted by Alyansa ng mga Novo Vizcano para sa Kalikasan, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in full riot gear were caught dispersing the people’s barricade. They also used truncheons and nightsticks to break up the crowd, causing commotion among the residents.
This led to the dispersal of the 29-manned barricade and the arrest of anti-mining advocate Roland Pulido, chairman of Didipio Earth Savers’ Movement Association (Desama).
During the dispersal, 3 were initially handcuffed: Pulido, and residents Elena Calingayan and Nardo Pugong. Other protesters were able to escape the police dragnet.
Calingayan and Pugong were later released, while only Pulido was brought to the police station for allegedly violating Republic Act 11332 or the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.” He also allegedly resisted and disobeyed a person in authority.
Pulido was released on Tuesday, April 7, after posting bail of P6,000.
In a statement on April 6, OceanaGold Philippines clarified that it needed to deliver backup fuel to the Dipidio Mine, which has an advanced pumping station. With the diesel supply reaching a low point, the company said there might be a significant risk of environmental damage and loss of existing underground infrastructure if the mine floods.
Source: Rappler