Army deploys more troops to secure mining firm in S. Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines - A company of soldiers has been deployed to the mines development site of Sagittarius Mines, Inc. to contain lingering security threats from the New People's Army, a village official confirmed Thursday. Rodelo E. Sitcharon, village chief of Pula Bato in Tampakan, South Cotabato told a public forum for the passage of the South Cotabato environment code that soldiers are beefing up security measures in the mines development site. "We, the leaders of the three barangays (villages), have requested for the deployment of AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] personnel within the mines development site due to insurgency threats," he said, adding the soldiers started duty in the area only last month. Sitcharon said they made the request following last New Year's Day's attack on the exploration base camp of Sagittarius in Tablu village by the communist rebels. Mining critics hit the militarization of the mining area, claiming this would give rise to human rights abuses. In a separate interview with reporters, Sitcharon said the company-size deployment was on top of the detachment set-up near the firm's base camp manned by militiamen under the supervision of the Army. He added the company-sized deployment is not on a stationary mode but scours the mountains to ward off the communist rebels. The New People's Army earlier warned the company to brace for more attacks. Roy D. Antonio, Sagittarius senior coordinator for corporate affairs, who graced the public forum, told reporters that the company has its own security force involving at least 100 private guards. "We have nothing to do with the deployment of soldiers in the mines development site. That's the initiative of the village leaders," he said. – Sun.Star Davao