MANKAYAN, Benguet — Indigenous Kankanaey residents of Barangay Bulalacao and Mankayan remained in a tense standoff with riot police and mining personnel along the Guinaoang-Colocol Road on Tuesday.

Community members stood their ground despite a heavy downpour as workers from Crescent Mining Development Corp. attempted to transport heavy equipment into the area to resume exploration activities.

Police were on site to enforce a writ of preliminary injunction issued by Judge Daniel Mangallay of Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Abatan, Buguias.

The 15-page court order instructs protesters to refrain from setting up physical road blocks, human barricades, or other barriers. The ruling also prohibits residents from stopping, blocking, or harassing company employees.

Residents of Bulalacao and neighboring Barangay Guinaoang established the blockade to protect their farmlands, water sources, and livelihoods while legal petitions against the company remain pending before government agencies.

Protesters contend that the renewal of the company’s Mineral Production Sharing Agreement lacked the required free, prior, and informed consent from affected indigenous communities, leaving them no choice but to block access to the site.

The company maintains that its agreement issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau remains valid. Crescent Mining Development Corp. said it fully complied with consent requirements, pointing to a signed memorandum of agreement with indigenous communities represented by their council of elders.

The standoff continues as protesters refuse to disperse despite the presence of law enforcement and adverse weather conditions.