BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (August 1)—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has dismantled and confiscated ball mill machines used in extracting minerals in a gold deposit-rich upland village here.
Lawyer Gelacio Bongat, NBI Region 2 director, said the bureau was deputized by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to stop illegal mining activities in the region, particularly in Sitio Balcony, Barangay Runruno.
As the primary government agency under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the MGB is responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country’s mineral resources, including those in reservations and lands of public domain.
“Deputized by the MGB, we immediately responded to dismantle and confiscate the improvised ball mills used by illegal small-scale miners in Sitio Balcony and for the illegal settlers to leave the area for their protection from imminent natural disaster,” Bongat said.
He said they acted in accordance with the law and mandate of the NBI to protect the interest of the national government through its mining contractor, which has the right over the area to extract minerals.
The national government contracted the London-based FCF Minerals Corp. to extract gold in the area under a financial or technical assistance agreement or FTAA for an initial 25 years, which may be renewable for another 25 years.
“We have coordinated with the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police to ensure the safety and security in dismantling the ball mills and accessories operated without permits from the MGB or the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Mining Regulatory Board,” Bongat said.
According to Engr. Mario Ancheta, MGB Region 2 director, the right of FCF Minerals over the area under the Mining Act of 1995 has to be respected; otherwise there will be a tremendous loss of resources to both the government and the mining contractor.
“Also, under the Small Scale Mining Act or RA 7076, the operation to dismantle the facilities of the illegal miners and to move illegal settlers from the area to a safer place is for their protection. Aside from having no authority or permit issued to the small-scale miners, the area has also been declared a geo-hazard, prone to landslide especially during inclement weather,” Ancheta said.
He said they don’t want a repeat of the tragedy during the onslaught of Typhoon “Ulysses” in November last year, which brought heavy downpour, causing landslides resulting in the loss of 10 lives who were identified as illegal settlers who directly and indirectly engage in illegal mining.
“There were even multiple cease and desist orders issued against the miners and settlers but due to humanitarian reasons some were even canceled to give them leeway but it has taken so long and continued with their illegal activities there risking their lives,” Ancheta said.
He said if they can show any permit or license to conduct mining there, then he may cause the return of those confiscated ball mill machines to the owners.
“But even so, the area is hazardous and they have to immediately leave as the rainy season has already started and that landslides may occur anytime endangering the lives of the illegal settlers there,” Ancheta said.
He also clarified that there was not a single dwelling that was demolished during the dismantling of ball mills contrary to social media reports, only structures that house the machines were dismantled, if any, to have access to the machines.
Meanwhile, the small-scale miners appealed for humanitarian consideration to process their stockpiles before leaving the area, but without their ball mills, they said, it would be impossible to do it for two months.
“Our ascendants have been here since time immemorial mining for their livelihood. We took over to continue because this is the only work we know to survive,” Josie Guillao said in Ilocano, on behalf of the settlers and small-scale miners in Sitio Balcony.
She said they understand that the advent of the government-sanctioned large-scale mining company FCF needed the area to be vacated but asked for more time to do what is left to do before they leave.