Group to Pasig cops: Don't blame activists for mining firm blasts

Manila, Philippines -  An environmental party-list group condemned the Pasig police yesterday for coming out with an “irresponsible” statement pinpointing anti-mining activists as possible suspects in the recent grenade attacks at the Philex Mining Corp.’s main office in Pasig City.

Pasig City police chief Senior Superintendent Alfredo Calama-an “should not make a scapegoat out of anti-mining activities for his and his police force’s incompetence in protecting civilians and institutions against violence and terror in Pasig City,” the Kalikasan party-list group said in a statement.

Calama-an said in his initial investigation that the possible perpetrators of the attacks on June 2 and July 28 were anti-mining activists and disgruntled workers of Philex Mining Corp. Owned by businessman Manny Pangilinan, Philex is the biggest mining company in the country and has large-scale mining operations and projects in Zamboanga, Negros, Benguet, Surigao del Norte and other provinces.

“The second attack is highly suspicious and is likely to have been staged. It makes us wonder how, after the first grenade attack just a month ago, Philex and the police did not improve their security practices. Does the headquarters of the biggest mining company and the richest man in the Philippines have no security camera to capture footage of these two attacks, which both happened in front of their building?” Kalikasan president Clemente Bautista said.