LCMC resumes work after paying P2-M bond

Court rules on TEPO vs mining firm 

MANKAYAN, Benguet – The Regional Trial Court  Branch 64 in adjacent Buguias town, by order of Judge Sergio Angnganay Jr. ordered Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corp. to pay P2 million to be able to resume operations.

The mining form paid the amount last week. 

"The court deems it proper to require the defendant mining company to file a bond before it may resume its mining activities in the subject areas in the amount of P2 million to answer for the damages the petitioners suffered and may continue to suffer if additional evidence show that said damages are the result of mining activities of defendant mining company within the subterranean levels of the petitioners community," the court order ruled.

LCMC information officer Joan Gatchalian told media the judge ruled not to extend the temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) after LCMC was ordered to post a P2 million bond before continuing its operations.

Last week, petitioners Alicia Magastino, Josephine Guminiguin, Richard Abdul, Felicidad Dula, Franklin Macario, Erlinda Sab-It, Belmondo Nammag, Jane Mendoza and Alfonso Mendoza secured a TEPO which lasted 72 hours.

The courts decided to impose on LCMC the bond upon its expiration saying "from the evidence preliminarily adduced, it appears there is no indication that petitioners will suffer irreparable and extensive damage if the mining activities of the defendant mining company below petitioner's communities will not be stopped immediately."

"The only damage testified to by petitioner's witness, Franklin Macario, are cracks on petitioner houses or structures and a sinkhole on petitioner land which may be fully compensated by defendant mining company. There being no extensive irreparable damage to be suffered by the petitioner in the immediate future, the continuation of the TEPO up to 20 days has no basis," the courts said. 

Petitioners alleged the sinking in their communities was caused by operations of the mining company.

LCMC over the years had denied sinking in Mankayan and nearby areas  was caused by underground mining operations.