NPA capability to attack mining firms belittled

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Authorities have belittled the capability of New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas to mount attacks against mining firms in the Cordilleras, particularly in Benguet which hosts two of the country’s gold and copper mines.

Senior Superintendent Moro Lazo, Benguet police director, said there is no specific threat from the NPA so far, based on intelligence reports, although the rebels can carry out harassments, raids, sabotage and extortion as part of their “terrorist activities.”

Lazo said the rebels could even agitate workers and employees of these mining firms so as to stop or affect their operations.

The other year, hundreds of fully armed rebels attacked a military detachment in Cabiten, Mankayan town, which hosts the 70-year-old Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. and source of the biggest share of gold production in the country. 

The rebels carted away a cache of firearms, killed three soldiers and wounded several others in the attack.

In the 1980s, NPA rebels also torched a giant mine drill of Lepanto.

A few days ago, Communist Party of the Philippines spokesman Gregorio Rosal ordered NPA units around the country to initiate attacks against mining firms which he said have contributed to environmental destruction.

Rosal also hinted that protest actions against commercial mining would be initiated in the coming months.

This is the reason why all mining firms in the Cordilleras are being closely watched and tightly guarded now, police authorities said.

Lazo believes that NPA guerrillas are calculating their moves in view of Rosal’s directive because they might get the ire of the people. 

“Especially that the locals here (in Benguet) no longer believe in their cause,” he said.

“For as long as the management and the employees, to include the community, are in constant dialogue whenever there are problems, and for as long as the parties are willing to sit down and negotiate, the NPA will not do any action because it might have a backlash on their cause,” he added.

Lazo said the NPA “knows that we are preparing for any action they will take,” citing security arrangements with the Provincial Police Mobile Group and the Regional Mobile Group.

Besides Lepanto, Philex Mining Corp., the country’s biggest producer of copper, also operates in Benguet, particularly in Tuba town.

Lawyer Weldy Manlong, speaking in behalf of Lepanto, said they are now studying their actions in relation to Rosal’s threat.