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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Mining explorations in Nueva Vizcaya resume after court's order vs protesters

Mining explorations in Nueva Vizcaya resume after court's order vs protesters

Published Nov 7, 2025 12:43 pm
A court-ordered ban against protesters paved the way for the continuation of the government-approved exploration activities in more than 3,000 hectares of land in five barangays in Dupax del Norte in Nueva Vizcaya.
In a statement, mining firm Woggle Corporation said it resumed its operations in full compliance with government regulations and its commitments to the community.
It said it holds all the required permits from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
It also said the firm was issued by the NCIP a Certificate of Non-Overlap, confirming that there are no recognized indigenous cultural communities or ancestral domains in the exploration area.
It added that community consultations were conducted in several barangays and before the municipal and provincial councils.
“Our work is governed by law, guided by science, and built on respect,” said Woggle General Manager for Operations Lorne Harvey. “We remain committed to transparency and open dialogue,” he also said.
He added that the exploration activities will determine the area’s mineral potential and assess whether a long-term project could support local economic development and environmental stewardship.
Earlier, the Manila Bulletin came out with the story on the order issued by the Nueva Vizcaya Regional Trial Court (RTC) which directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest any person who will obstruct or prevent the government-approved mining exploration activities in Dupax del Norte town.
(Please read: https://mb.com.ph/2025/10/17/rtc-orders-pnp-to-arrest-protesters-vs-govt-approved-mining-exploration-in-nueva-vizcaya)
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.
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.
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