While physical barricades have been demolished, protesters against the government-approved mining exploration activities in Dupax del Norte town in Nueva Vizcaya have resorted to human barricades.

This prompted Judge Paul R. Attolba Jr. of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 30 in Bayombong town to issue another order that directed the court’s sheriffs and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to file charges against the violators like contempt of court.

Judge Attolba acted on the sheriff’s report which informed the court that while the protesters had removed the physical barricades, they formed a human barricade to stop the passage of the mining firm’s employees and contractors to the mining exploration areas of Woggle Corporation.

Woggle was issued on Aug. 4, 2025 Exploration Permit No. 00030-II by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It immediately started its mining exploration activities.

Court records showed that protesters led by Florentino Daynos and his groups started putting up physical barricades to stop the exploration.

In a previous order, the RTC had ruled that the protesters should have presented their protests against the mining explorations before the MGB’s Panel of Arbitrators in compliance with Republic Act No. 7942, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Based on the sheriff’s report, the RTC noted that the protesters have not complied with the orders issued by the court.

Thus, in its order dated last Jan. 19, Judge Attolba directed the court sheriffs and the PNP to enforce his orders and arrest any person obstructing the Keon barangay road that leads to the mining exploration areas.

Judge Attolba told the sheriffs and the PNP: “Enforce the writ arrest, without need of further order from the court, against any person who would refuse, resist, obstruct or defy the implementation of the writ, such arrest being necessary to compel obedience to a lawful order of the court, prevent escalation of hostilities, and preserve public peace and order.”

The RTC said the arrest of protesters is necessary to compel obedience to a lawful order and prevent the escalation of hostilities.

The court said that the formation of human barricades is a patent act of disobedience and a clear circumvention of the court’s authority.

“Any act intended to thwart, defeat, or render inutile the lawful orders of the Court constitute defiance of judicial authority and tends to bring the administration of justice into disrepute,” the court warned.

The court then directed the sheriffs “to identify and submit to the Court within five days from the implementation, the names of all persons who obstructed or defied the writ for the institution of appropriate proceedings for contempt of court.”

Aside from fine, a jail term is also imposed for persons found guilty of contempt of court whether directly or indirectly.