Benguet Corp., nickel unit file appeal on DENR orders with Malacañang

Benguet Corp. and wholly-owned subsidiary Benguetcorp Nickel Mines Inc. (BNMI) on Thursday filed a notice of appeal with the Office of the President on the closure and suspension orders issued by the Department of Environment and Resources (DENR).

Benguet Corp. disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange it filed the appeal "in connection with the cancellation orders dated February 8, 2017 of the DENR."

Both companies were among the 23 companies whose operations were ordered shut by Environment Secretary Gina Lopez earlier this month.

Under Section 9 of Administrative Order No. 22, the filling of a notice of appeal stops the DENR from executing its order.

In another statement on Wednesday, Lopez noted no mining operations have stopped as a result of the DENR orders, saying "the process is they can go on appeal after receiving the notice of suspension or closure."

BNMI earlier said it is taking legal action against the DENR for cancelling its mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA), claiming that the department "“failed to identify specific environmental violations.” — Ted Cordero/VDS, GMA News