A regional trial court in Nueva Vizcaya ordered the removal of anti-mining barricades along Barangay Keon Road in Bitnong, Dupax del Norte, ruling that the obstruction unlawfully prevented a mining company from carrying out activities allowed under a valid exploration permit.
The ruling was contained in court documents released by Woggle Corporation on its official Facebook page, detailing the court’s findings and directives on the case.
In its ruling, the court said the barricades blocked access to a public barangay road used by Woggle to reach its exploration site. The court identified the defendants—protesters who opposed the mining exploration—and subsequently ordered them to remove the obstructions.
The court noted that Barangay Keon Road had been “openly and continuously used by the public” and maintained by the local government, rejecting claims that the road was private and beyond public access.
The ruling also clarified that an exploration permit does not allow a company to mine or extract minerals. Instead, it permits activities such as surveys, drilling, and testing to determine whether minerals are present and whether mining could be feasible in the future. While limited in scope, the court said the permit still grants a legally recognizable right to conduct exploration, as long as environmental and mining rules are followed.
In denying motions to lift the injunction, the court said disputes over environmental compliance, land ownership, or consent from surface owners should be addressed through proper legal and administrative channels, rather than through physical obstruction.
In ordering the removal of the barricades, the court said it was duty-bound to apply the law “without fear or favor,” stressing that opposition to mining activities must be pursued through lawful processes.
The court directed the immediate removal of the barricades and barred the defendants and those acting on their behalf from further obstruction or harassment. It also ordered their lawyers to ensure compliance within 72 hours, warning that failure to do so could result in contempt of court.
As mining-related disputes continue to surface across the country, how should communities, companies, and regulators balance environmental concerns with the rule of law and the permitting process?
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