A subsidiary of listed Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. (FNI) is in preparation of a legal action against Palawan Mayor Mary Jean Feliciano for the destruction of its mining facilities in its host community at Brooke’s Point, which is a violation in the mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) between the mining company and the local government.
Ipilan Nickel Corporation said that the provincial leader led a group of armed companions to trespass and destroy the company’s properties despite the lack of directive from the Environment Department itself.
“We are preparing additional criminal, civil, and administrative actions to hold the mayor and her companions liable for all the immediate and natural consequences of the forcible entry and destruction of properties,” Ferdinand Libatique, Ipilan resident mine manager, said.
In its appeal, Ipilan reiterates the town mayor and her fellow officials invaded the mine area’s premises, knocking down fences, gate posts, and even guard houses to completely gain access to the campsite office building, which was also demolished.
“Their actions had opened up the entire contract area to various forms of destruction, pilferage, and hazards as total strangers made their way into the area unimpeded,” Libatique continued, stressing that the local officials carried on the destruction by way of its prejudice only to disrupt a government project that will benefit not only Ipilan, but the community of Brooke’s Point as well.
Under the MPSA, the mining company is allowed to open and run any facility as long as it’s in the contract area and the office building is owned by the government.
Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman has issued a subpoena to the Palawan mayor following the criminal and administrative complaint against her for disregarding the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and abuse of authority.
Mayor Feliciano, a feisty environmental lawyer in her activist days, was elected mayor of Brooke’s Point for her strong anti-mining sentiments.
Around the same period, the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) filed a cease and desist order against Ipilan for continuing its mine operations despite ruling a cancellation of its environmental compliance certificate after deliberate inspection by the Environmental Management Bureau, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and the local government unit within Ipilan’s area of operations.
Moreover, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development is in talks with Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu to altogether cancel Ipilan’s MPSA with the DENR due to the company’s several criminal charges such as the felling of over 600 trees in a nearby idle area not covered by its one-year tree cutting permit, which expired last May 2017.
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