GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Communist rebels hailed the recent attacks against mining companies in Surigao del Norte and vowed to carry out punitive actions against those that "destroy the environment, exploit the workers and drive away indigenous people from their ancestral lands."
"We are serious and determined to protect our patrimony, sovereignty, and the general welfare and interests of the people and the environment. We will use the full potential of the revolutionary movement to carry out these just policies," said Jorge Madlos alias Ka Oris, National Democratic Front (NDF) spokesman for Mindanao.
Oris issued the statement dated October 5, 2011, a copy of which was sent to Sun.Star, following the attacks Monday on three biggest mining companies in Claver town, Surigao del Norte that raised concerns over security of mining operations in the Philippines.
The New People's Army (NPA) under the Pulang Diwata Command (PDC) in the North-Eastern Mindanao Region disarmed guards, briefly held company staff, and torched company offices and heavy equipment during the attacks on three mines run by Nickel Asia Corp. and Platinum Group Metals Corp.
Australian and Japanese officials expressed concern Wednesday over the attacks, saying the incidents could hurt the Philippines' image.
"It's awful, I mean it's not only the damage to the equipment but the damage to the reputation of the Philippines that I'm worried (about)," said Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe.
But Madlos said the attack was timely and warranted against a "rapacious business interests that ravage the environment and natural resources, and intensify the exploitation and repression of workers, peasants, and the Lumad people."
He said the incident should serve as a warning to other big mining operations in Mindanao.
Madlos reminded Eastern Mining Corp. in Diwalwal, Monkayo, Compostela Valley; the Xtrata-SMI Mining Corp. in Tampakan, South Cotabato; the San Roque Mining Inc. in Tubay, Agusan del Norte; and the Toronto Ventures Inc. in Zamboanga Sibugay that similar punitive action will be meted out against them if they continue to violate NDF's policy on environment, labor and the indigenous peoples.
"Far worse than the mining operations, destructive agri-business companies, such as Dole, Del Monte, and large-scale oil palm plantations which have poisoned our soil, air, and water, deprived thousands of peasants and Lumads of land and means of living, and exploited and oppressed workers, are likewise subject to the same revolutionary policies," he said.
Other companies warned by the NDF were Philippine Sinter Corp.-Kawasaki, the coal-fired power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental; and hydro-electric power plants, including business firms planning to put up similar environmentally destructive operations.
Malacanang, however, assured investors that security in the country's mining areas will be improved.
"We understand their concerns because we're just as disappointed of what happened there, so we've taken corrective actions. We are doing a threat assessment and we'll facilitative if necessary upon the recommendation of the DND (defense department), the AFP (armed forces) and the PNP (police)," presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
He said the military and the police have implemented immediate actions to ensure the safety of mining companies in the country.
In South Cotabato, for instance, Governor Arthur Pingoy Jr. assured that police and military personnel in the province are closely guarding the area.
"We are trying to secure all, and so we are on guard [all the time]," he said.
The governor appealed to the public and mining companies though to be vigilant against possible attacks by the communist rebels, citing the Provincial Government monitored NPA recruitment in Barangay Ned in Lake Sebu town and parts of Tampakan, South Cotabato.
Lake Sebu and Tampakan towns are home to huge coal and copper deposits, respectively, with San Miguel Corp. holding rights over the former and Sagittarius Mines Inc. on the latter.
Pingoy said government security troops are on top of the situation, noting that internal security efforts were turned over last week to the Provincial Government by the military.
Lacierda, meanwhile, said the government will look into allegations of abuses committed by Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC) that triggered the Surigao del Norte attack.
In a statement, NDF-North Eastern Mindanao Region spokesperson Maria Malaya said the attack was in retaliation against the TMC, which has "ravaged the area for nearly 30 years."
"Instead of remitting P400 million in taxes to the [local government], through sheer bribery, the company is now only paying the local government P40 million. It is only right to punish this company," Malaya said.
It was also reported that several environmental groups were sympathetic with the NPA's action.
Lacierda maintained, however, that the NPA should not resort to violence in addressing issues with the mining firms, noting there are many pro environment members of the Aquino Cabinet that could have acted on those issues.
"All things being equal, you don't have to resort to violence to address those concerns," he said. "(That problem) could have been raised with us if there are violations."
But Madlos of the NDF described the Aquino government in the arena of environment as worse than the Gloria Arroyo regime.
The NDF spokesman for Mindanao criticized the current administration for conniving with destructive mining companies, such as Sumitomo, Nickel Asia Corporation and SRMI.
Madlos said that by allowing the companies to operate and destroy the environment, the Aquino administration shows that not the Filipino masses but the profit-hungry foreign capitalists and their local stooges are its real masters.
Around 200 to 300 rebels attacked Monday the TMC in Claver town and destroyed several of the company's facilities, including dump trucks, backhoes, barges, and a guest house.
Taganito is a unit of Nickel Asia Corp., which is partly owned by Japan's Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd.
Another group of rebels attacked the nearby Platinum Metals Group Corp., also in Claver. Three hours later, another mine site operated by another Taganito company, Taganito HPAL Corporation, was also attacked by rebels.
The attack forced Nickel Asia to suspend its operations indefinitely. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, however, Nickel Asia said it already resumed operations.
The military said one of the reasons for the attack was the company's refusal to pay "revolutionary taxes" to the rebels.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines found, though, "serious lapses" committed by government forces on the field that allowed for the successful attacks.
President Benigno Aquino III then ordered the relief of the brigade commander assigned in Claver, Surigao del Norte, as well as of three police officials.
Authorities are still investigating the incident. (Aquiles Z. Zonio/Bong Sarmiento/Ben Tesiorna/Jill Beltran/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
