STANDOFF: “Mining” protesters, Sino-Italy fail to agree on site-entry issue

CEBU, Philippines - Negotiations with "mining" protesters have failed for Sino-Italy engineers and workers to be allowed to get through the barricade and enter the dredging project site at Tambacan in Tanjay City yesterday.

Chief Insp. George Badon, Tanjay City Police chief, took an extra mile to conduct a shuttle diplomacy for both sides, when furnished a copy of the letter issued by Sino-Italy, through its legal counsel, that the company is willing to disassemble the machineries inside the magnetite processing plant.

Separate meetings were conducted by Badon between representatives of Sino Italy and the protesters, including Barangay Chairman Ricardo Fabe.

Badon however denied having conducted negotiations, in behalf of Sino-Italy, in violation of directives from higher police headquarters. He clarified he merely wanted a safe conduct pass for the workers and to maintain peace and order to avoid conflicts and heated arguments.

The protesters have earlier agreed through their representatives to allow Sino-Italy personnel to enter the barricades and to dismantle the plant, he said.

However, there was a change of mind by the protesters, saying that company workers be allowed entry only when they sign the logbook, state their names and their purpose, and with the presence of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) personnel to witness the dismantling, being the agency that issued their permit to install the machineries.

One of the leaders of the group, a certain Joe Maglukot, said his people were extra careful in dealing with the situation because charges have been filed against them by the city mayor who was supposed to defend his constituents.

A female protester even said the company workers can walk through the barricades but could not bring their trucks unless the processing plant is totally dismantled.

Gov. Roel Degamo had earlier called on concerned agencies in government, particularly the MGB, to see to it processes were being followed, because the affected barangay has already passed and approved a resolution vehemently objecting to the establishment of a processing plant, with signatures of residents who opposed the project. (FREEMAN)