PRO-7 director calls for maximum tolerance at “mining” protest site

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines— Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, regional director of the Police Regional Office-Region 7, has cautioned police personnel against the use of unnecessary force while keeping the peace at the “black sand mining” protest site Tanjay City.

In a telephone interview, Constantino told The Freeman he had given strict orders to Sr. Supt. Mariano Natuel, director of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office, to exercise maximum tolerance when responding to requests for police assistance.

Constantino said he received updates on the situation involving the mass protest of residents against the purported black sand mining operation at sitio Tambacan in Barangay 4 of  Tanjay City.

The protesters, who entered their second week of mass action Thursday, continued to stand their ground in barricading the road leading to the project site of Sino-Italy Philippines, Inc., the contractor tasked to dredge the Tanjay River to avoid future flooding.

The Tanjay City government, headed by Mayor Lawrence Teves, earlier insisted that the memorandum of understanding entered into by the LGU and Sino-Italy was for a multi-million peso dredging project of   the Tanjay River. Since the LGU does not have the funds to pay for the project, it  allowed the contractor to have in their possession minerals, like black sand, derived from materials dredged from the river.

But residents and other anti-mining quarters have opposed the project, alleging it was black sand mining operation in the guise of dredging. They are now demanding Sino-Italy to remove its plant from the project site.

Last week, violence erupted at the protest site when city government workers tried to take down the barricades, claiming the road leading to the operations plant was publicly owned. Protesters, however, insisted the road belongs to private owners. In the process, a commotion ensued with rocks being hurled at the police and two protesters arrested and charged.

According to Constantino, the primary role of the police is to maintain peace and order and ensure the safety and security of everybody. He said that, when a crowd dispersal management (CDM) team is needed, regular police are deployed to act as back-up security but should only be armed with truncheons and nightsticks.

The police must stay neutral at all times and must respond to calls for assistance from any person and must not be taking orders from anybody except their police officials, Constantino added.

Newly-installed OIC provincial police director Sr. Supt. Mariano Natuel has reiterated the stand of  Chief  Supt. Danilo Constantino.

On Thursday afternoon, the police conducted again another round of talks with stakeholders in Tanjay City in an apparent bid to obtain a win-win solution to the controversy. (FREEMAN)