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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider RTC orders PNP to arrest protesters vs gov't-approved mining exploration in Nueva Vizcaya

RTC orders PNP to arrest protesters vs gov't-approved mining exploration in Nueva Vizcaya

Published Oct 17, 2025 11:25 am
The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Nueva Vizcaya has been ordered by a Regional Trial Court (RTC) to arrest any person who will obstruct or prevent the government-approved mining exploration activities in Dupax del Norte town in the province.
The order was issued by Judge Paul R. Attolba Jr. of RTC Branch 30 in Bayombong town last Thursday, Oct. 16, after his first 72-hour temporary restraining order (TRO) issued last Oct. 10 against mining protesters and later his 20-day TRO on Oct. 13 remained unimplemented due to continuous protests.
The TRO was issued in favor of Woggle Corporation which has Exploration Permit No. 00030-II from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) covering 3,101.11 hectares in five barangays (villages) in Dupax del Norte.
The exploration permit was issued by DENR-MGB on Aug. 4, 2025.
When the first TRO was not implemented due to “hostile acts and resistance of persons maintaining a barricade at the road going to the exploration site,” the RTC, after notice and hearing, issued the 20-day TRO that contained an order to the PNP.
The court noted that when its 20-day TRO was “willfully and openly defied” by the protesters with threats of violence, it directed the PNP to step in to implement a lawful court order.
It reminded the protesters that when lawful order is resisted or disobeyed, “those responsible may be held in contempt of court pursuant to Rule 71, Section 3(b) of the Rules of Court, which provides that a person guilty of "disobedience of or resistance to a lawful writ, process, order, or judgment of a court may be punished for indirect contempt."
Also, the court said that Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) punishes resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or his agents.
In his order, Judge Attolba said: “The PNP is further authorized and directed to arrest any persons who willfully disobey, obstruct, or resist the implementation of the said Order, and to file appropriate charges against them for indirect contempt of court and other offenses under existing laws.”
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