BY TVJ NEWS TEAM
DUPAX DEL NORTE, Nueva Vizcaya—A wheel excavator, part of a road-clearing operation in the aftermath of Typhoon Uwan, was reduced to ashes in a suspected arson attack in Sitio Upper Tacbao, Barangay Bitnong, on Friday, December 12, 2025.
The incident, reported at 5:58 a.m., is believed to be linked to ongoing anti-mining protests in the area.
The equipment, along with three pickup trucks and a light truck, was trapped on the site after protesters erected barricades blocking its exit for several weeks. This is not the first time that anti-mining groups have clashed with mining exploration activities in the area.
The said excavator owned by the Global construction company and Woggle Corporation, along with their operators and crew, was the same equipment that was dispatched on November 14, 2025, to help clear roads following Super Typhoon Uwan.
Roberto Madriago, Security Specialist of FCF Minerals, alerted authorities to the burning equipment. According to Madriago, a representative from the mining group had made threatening statements before the incident, warning of consequences if the equipment were forced to be withdrawn from the area.
“Adda mangyari agitoy gamit yu ken personnel yu nu ipilit yu iruwar,” the representative allegedly said, which translates to “Something will happen to your equipment and personnel if you force them to be withdrawn.”
The Second Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Dupax del Norte Police Station responded promptly to the scene and coordinated with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to investigate the incident.
“We are taking this incident seriously and will do our best to identify the perpetrators,” said Major Rudil Bassit, Chief of Police.
The incident highlights the escalating tensions between mining operations and local communities in this town, raising concerns about the safety of mining exploration personnel and equipment.
The mining industry is a complex and often disputed topic, with some communities concerned about environmental and health impacts, while others see it as an opportunity for economic growth and job creation.
According to Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau officials in Region 2 led by Director Mario Ancheta, the government has been working to balance the needs of the industry with the rights of local communities, but incidents like this underscore the challenges that lie ahead.
Meanwhile, Woggle Corporation expresses deep concern over the deliberate burning of the wheel excavator, which was provided at the request of Sitio Tacbao, Barangay Bitnong residents to support road clearing efforts following the Super Typhoon Uwan-caused landslide.
“Despite the community’s urgent need, the machine was barricaded for several weeks and was later set on fire. This act disregards both the assistance extended by the company and the welfare of residents awaiting restored road access, the compay said in astatement.
It said that the extraction of the remaining light vehicles that had also been barricaded was completed.