Gov’t asked: Protect mining sites from NPA attacks

MANILA, Philippines - The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) is urging the government to protect mining investments in the countryside after two of its member companies suffered attacks from communist rebels.

Last month, Philex Mining Corp. subsidiary Philex Gold Mining Corp. suspended its exploration activities in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental after suspected New People’s Army rebels raided its mine site and burned a bunk house and a generator set. 

The company’s exploration site is located in Sitio Umas, Barangay Kamindangan. The area of the attack is 30 kilometers away from the company’s Bulawan gold project.

Last month, NPA guerrillas also attacked a drill site of the Lepanto Consolidated Mining in Mankayan, Benguet, and burned equipment that cost millions of pesos.

“The Chamber strongly condemns these recent attacks on our members Philex Mining Corp. and Lepanto Mining Corp., which endanger the lives not only of mining employees but also of residents of mining communities and the government troops that these terrorists encounter,” the COMP said.

The group said that even as it members reinforce security measures around its mine sites, the government must take the lead in protecting businesses and key investments.

“Despite such attacks, these terrorists have failed in fleecing these companies of their ‘revolutionary tax’ even as they continue to do the same to small-scale miners who have no means to protect themselves,” the COMP said.

The COMP noted that in October 2011, NPAs attacked the sites of Taganito Mining Corp. and Platinum Group Metals Corp. in Claver, Surigao del Norte.