Marañon to PA: Enhance security of mining firms

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has asked Col. Francisco Patrimonio, commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, to beef up the security in all the mining companies in Sipalay City.

Government troops should be deployed to Sipalay to secure mining companies after Philex Mining Corp. in Brgy. Nabulao was raided by some 30 suspected New People's Army rebels last week.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director, said the NPA had earlier made a pronouncement that they are against the operations of the mining firms in the area, and has been launching tactical offensives against them.

Lieutenant Col. Rodrigo Sosmena, 47th Infantry Battalion commander, said the rebels swooped down on the mining compound, disarmed the guards, and took three hand-held radios at their outpost, about three kilometers away from the compound.

The rebels, believed to be members of the Armando Sumayang Command, also torched a cargo truck rented by the mining firm, as well as the bunk house of guards and workers, he said.

Marañon said the incident could affect the tourism industry in Sipalay and in southern Negros. Sipalay and its neighboring areas are known for white sand beaches and diving sites, and are among the prime tourist destinations of Negros Occidental.

Because of what happened at Philex, investors would have second thought in putting up businesses in the area, the governor lamented, adding that many times before he has reached out to the rebels to bring their concerns to the government instead and join in improving the countryside.

Sosmena said, "Criminal acts like these have been a systematic scheme of the NPA to extort money from private firms, which they call soft targets. I believe they are committing the worst social injustice to the people of Sipalay City."

In 2008, military records showed the rebels also raided Philex where they also torched millions of pesos worth of mine-drilling and heavy equipment, as well as barracks of workers. - THE FREEMAN