Villagers condemn dispersal of picket at Philex's open pit

BY DEXTER A. SEE

TUBA, Benguet – Thousands of residents of Barangay Camp 3 here, who are opposing operations of Philex Mining Corp., condemned the company’s alleged “inhumane treatment” of the people who staged recently a picket at the side of its open pit.

The residents decided to camp out at the open pit to show the company that they were serious in their demand for the firm to stop ongoing operations.

They were also protesting the repeated failure of the supposed negotiations.

The protesters brought along with them foodstuffs, extra clothes, and firewood and issued a makeshift tent built earlier for the dialogue to show their plan to hold a long peaceful picket.

They would continue with the picket until the company accedes to their demand for negotiations.

Rufo Gayaso, one of the spokespersons of the affected community, said they merely wanted to conduct a meeting at the site when Philex’s armed security men dismantled the makeshift tent, confiscated the food items and firewood, and dragged some residents out of the area.

Philex has yet to issue an official statement regarding the deadlock on the supposed negotiations, but its decision to disperse the picket was reportedly done because the residents were allegedly obstructing work at the open pit mine where workers were scheduled to report for work on that day.

Residents denied the allegation of the company, saying they were inclined to push the fight to stop the company’s mining operation.

The group was planning to file a petition for a restraining order before the regional hearing office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to compel the mining company to comply with the recent order of NCIP-CAR Regional Director Amador Batay-an.