Anti-mining protesters sue PNP

Mining-affected residents of Kasibu and Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, trooped to the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday to file administrative and criminal complaints against the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the arrest of the Kasibu 11, who took part in a barricade against mining activities.

Environmental groups also filed bribery and corruption complaints against Barangay Pao officials and the North Luzon Mining Resources Corp., as well as a perjury complaint challenging the PNP’s account of the arrests.

Environmental defenders from Dupax del Norte also filed countercharges against the PNP over its implementation of a writ of preliminary injunction in the municipality.

“Those of us fighting for our land and environment should not be the ones being charged, but rather the people behind the push for mining and the violence against the people,” said a member of the Kasibu Intertribal Response Towards Ecological Development.

Barricade vs mining

The Alyansa ng Novo Vizcayano stressed that barricades are part of the province’s long history of resistance to large-scale mining.

We will continue to put up barricades and build even more as long as the threat of mining remains in our communities,” the alliance said.