Group protests large-scale mining in Mati City
Published Jun 30, 2025 04:22 pm
DAVAO CITY – A multisectoral group in Mati City in Davao Oriental vowed to continue their protest against a large-scale mining operation amid the arrest of their members in Barangay Macambol over the weekend.
ROAD barricade set up by residents in Barangay Macambol in the City of Mati on June 26. (Contributed photo)
On June 26, members of the Davao Oriental Pujada Landscape Eco-Tourism Association, Farmer, Fisherfolks, Family, and Friends (Dapubleta F4) barricaded a portion of the road in Barangay Macambol leading to the nickel mining site of Hallmark Mining Corp. Dapubleta F4 is composed of farmers, fisherfolk, and other local villagers in Macambol and nearby areas.
According to the group, they are protesting the inaction of the mining company following their request to address the damages to their livelihood allegedly due to landslide from the mine site.
People barricaded a portion of the access road traversing a part of a private property owned by the Cellona family to press the mining firm.
Bryan Codilla, chairman of the Dapubleta F4, clarified that they are not against or in favor of the mining operations in Barangay Macambol.
But there were some concerns that raised before the mining firm that they have yet to address.
The group put up a barricade last week and barred vehicles owned by the mining firm from passing the only access road to the mining site in Sitio Salingcomot, also part of Barangay Macambol.
However, police, assisted by barangay officials, forcibly dismantled the barricade on June 28 and arrested Codilla, his relative Claridel Cellona, and Donars Narisma, following a brief standoff.
Protesting residents insisted that barangay officials and police have no right to clear the road that sits on a titled private property.
A video of the standoff obtained by Manila Bulletin showed that the police, led by Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office chief Police Brig. Gen. Julius Silagan, and the Barangay Macambol captain insisted that there is an order from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to clear the road.
Silagan said that he was ordered by Philippine National Police chief Police Gen. Nicholas Torre III to implement the clearing operation.
But protesters insisted that the police do not have any warrant or court order to implement road clearing operations in a private property.
As residents refused to dismantle the barricade, police told residents to challenge their action before the court.
Salazar presented a barangay resolution before the protesters ordering them to dismantle the barricade since it is a part of a provincial road.
But residents said that barangay officials have no authority over the private property.
Cellona, Codilla, and Narisma were charged with “disobedience to persons in authority and obstruction of justice.”
The group’s counsel, Glocelito Jayma, said that the action of barangay officials and policemen, was illegal as the access road remains a part of a private property.
Jayma criticized the police for barging into the house of Cellona without any warrant of arrest or a search warrant. “My client did not commit any crime.”
A copy of a video obtained by Manila Bulletin showed that several police officers, some of them wearing face masks, entered the house despite the plea of residents not to enter the premises.
Towards the end of the four-minute video, a female police officer, whose face was covered with a piece of cloth, was seen kicking the door several times of a room inside the house.
Jayma said the policemen were after Cellona, who was eventually arrested while inside her house. “The sketch map of Cellona will show no road,” he added.
Jayma questioned the alleged participation of a retired police officer, believed to be employed by a mining firm, during the arrest of his clients. “It’s highly irregular as to why a Hallmark officer was there.”
The arrested residents are detained at the City of Mati Police Station and sent to the prosecutor’s office for inquest proceedings.
However, the police officer told Manila Bulletin over the phone that he could not yet provide further details because most of their personnel have been deployed for the inauguration ceremonies of newly-elected local officials.
On June 28, Manila Bulletin sought a comment from Dr. Arvin Carlom, the mining firm’s community relations manager, on the complaint of the residents. Carlom has yet to respond as of posting time.