Sibuyan residents questioned the presence of police personnel at the barricades they put up to oppose the illegal operations of Altai Philippines Mining Company.
A number of policemen bearing batons and protective equipment arrived Tuesday evening at the barricades of anti-mining protestors. Kagawad Donato Royo of Barangay Españ confronted the police, asking them for a written order in order to find out who ordered the policemen to go to the barricades.
“The police could not even produce a written order, despite claiming that they were ordered to go to the barricades supposedly to maintain peace and order. But, there is no need for them to come as the residents are peacefully protesting. Besides, why were they in full protective gear? They even brought batons, seemingly wanting to provoke some sort of trouble,” Kagawad Royo said.
In an interview with Romblon News Network, Police Capt. Richard Obsid, information officer of Romblon Police Provincial Office, said that augmented forces from Cajidiocan and Magdiwang Municipal Police Stations including personnel form Provincial Mobile Force Company were sent to Sitio Bato.
He reiterated that troops were sent by the provincial office to maintain peace and order in the area.
Sibuyan residents have been protesting at the barricades for nearly a week already, as they demanded the suspension of the operations of Altai Mining Company.
