Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, regional director of the Philippine National Police in Region 7, has cautioned police personnel against the use of unnecessary force while keeping the peace at the controversial “black sand mining” issue in Tanjay City.
In a telephone interview, Chief Supt. Constantino admitted he is not quite familiar with the problem in Tanjay City but nevertheless, has given strict orders to the provincial police director of Negros Oriental to exercise maximum tolerance when responding to requests for police assistance.
He, however, said that he is being updated on the situation involving an ongoing mass protest against the purported black sand mining operation at Sitio Tambacan, Barangay 4 in Tanjay City.
The protesters, who entered their second week of mass action Thursday, continue to stand their ground in barricading the road leading to the project site of Sino-Italy Philippines, Inc., the contractor tasked to dredge the Tanjay River to avoid future flooding.
Early on, the local government unit of Tanjay City, headed by Mayor Lawrence Teves, insisted that the memorandum of understanding entered into by the LGU and Sino-Italy was for a multi-million pesos dredging project of the Tanjay River. Since the LGU does not have the funds to pay for the project, the contractor is instead allowed to have in their possession minerals, like black sand, derived from materials dredged from the river.
But residents and other anti-mining quarters are opposing the project saying it is black sand mining in the guise of dredging and are now clamoring for the contractor to remove its plant from the project site.
Last week, violence erupted at the protest site when city government workers attempted to take down the barricades, claiming the road leading to the operations plant was publicly owned. Protesters, however, insist the road belongs to private owners. In the process, a commotion ensued with rocks being hurled at the police and two protesters arrested and charged.
According to Chief Supt. Constantino, the primary role of the police is to maintain peace and order and ensure the safety and security of everybody, he said.
Constantino explained that in instances where a Crowd Dispersal Management team is needed, regular police with firearms are deployed to act as back-up security to the CDM, who are only armed with truncheons and nightsticks.
He reiterated that the PNP must stay neutral at all times and must respond to calls for assistance from any person and must not be taking orders from anybody except their police officials.
Newly-installed OIC provincial police director Sr. Supt. Mariano Natuel has reiterated the stand of Chief Supt. Constantino.
On Thursday afternoon, the PNP again initiated another round of talks with stakeholders in Tanjay City in an apparent bid to obtain a win-win solution to the problem. (PNA)
