29/08/2026
๐๐จ๐ฏ. ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค๐๐๐ โ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ข๐ณ๐๐๐ฒ๐ โ Gov. Jose V. Gambito ordered police to defuse a tense mining standoff here Friday and prevent further violence as a confrontation between anti-mining protesters and North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation (NLMRC) personnel escalated into a physical clash, resulting in the arrest of 11 protesters.
Kasibu police chief Police Capt. Lloyd Guillermo said in a media interview that Gov. Gambito called him as officers responded to a report that protesters were blocking vehicles attempting to pass through a municipal road leading to a mining exploration and drilling site in Barangay Pacquet.
โThe governor called to ask about the situation and instructed us to see how the tension could be eased and to make sure that nobody would get hurt,โ Guillermo said.
The standoff escalated into a physical confrontation between protesters and authorities, with police eventually arresting 11 people who were allegedly among those blocking access to the site.
Atty. Fidel Santos, counsel for the anti-mining advocates, said the confrontation began at about 4 p.m. when personnel of the mining company attempted to enter the exploration area but were stopped by protesters who had formed a barricade.
Santos said he had asked police to wait so he could speak with the protesters and attempt to mediate the dispute. By the time he arrived, however, the police dispersal operation had already begun.
Guillermo said police responded after receiving a 911 call for assistance. He rejected allegations that officers were es**rting the mining company, saying the police operation was prompted by the reported obstruction of a municipal road.
โWe deny that this was an es**rt operation. The PNP cannot simply conduct an es**rt without the proper request and procedures,โ Guillermo said. โWhat we did was purely a police response because they have the right to pass through. There is no law preventing them from using a road that has been lm declared a municipal road,โ he added.
Guillermo said the confrontation could have been avoided had the protesters allowed the vehicles to pass, while emphasizing that the Philippine National Police does not take sides in disputes.
โWe only responded to a call for assistance. We do not control when these incidents happen. The PNP remains neutral and does not take sides. Whoever needs police assistance, we will respond,โ he said.
Police said those arrested included eight men and two women, along with residents from Pacquet, Dine and Catarawan. Two of the arrested protesters were reportedly injured during the confrontation.
Guillermo said the 11 were among those positioned at the front of the barricade, where the alleged obstruction was strongest.
The protesters could face charges of grave coercion and resistance and disobedience to a person in authority and their agents, according to police.
Santos criticized the arrests, saying he had hoped the dispute could be resolved through dialogue before the confrontation escalated.
The police further conducted a dialogue with the anti-mining group and NLMRC personnel, with Vice Mayor Alberto โChitoโ Bumolo and other Sanggunian Bayan members joining the talks to help ease tensions and seek a temporary agreement while negotiations continue.
Following discussions, the parties agreed to temporarily prevent the companyโs personnel, equipment and supplies from entering the exploration site while negotiations continue.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Kasibu is expected to meet Tuesday with representatives of the anti-mining group and the mining company in an effort to resolve the dispute.
