Atienza orders seizure of A3 Una nickel ores

Acting on a complaint filed by four mining firms, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza has ordered the seizure of ores mined by A3 Una Corp. and warned violators of mining and environmental laws that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) would implement the full force of law against them.

“Violators of our mining and environmental laws pose a great danger to our people and communities. I will not tolerate their activities and they will suffer severe sanctions,” Atienza said.

Atienza issued the warning following the recent seizure of about 200,000 metric tons of alleged illegally mined nickel ores at the private pier of A3 Una in Bolitoc, Sta. Cruz, Zambales.

The seizure, implemented pursuant to an order from DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) dated January 31, 2008, was conducted on Feb. 8 by a composite team from the DENR, MGB, and the Philippine National Police. 

MGB Region 3 director Anselmo Abungan, who joined the team that implemented the order, said they seized approximately four boatloads of nickel ore estimated to be worth $4 million after the company failed to show evidence that they were legally sourced.

“We will not release these minerals until the company submits documents showing that the minerals were legally sourced, such as ore transport permits (OTP), mining permits, operating agreements and the like,” Abungan said.

He said failure to show the necessary documents could be construed as evidence that the minerals were mined illegally. The DENR can hold the company liable for theft of minerals, which is punishable by imprisonment of up to six years.

The seizure order stemmed from the complaints of four companies alleging that A3 Una has been mining in their permit areas, without their consent, using small-scale mining permits.

The complainants were Zambales Chromite Mining Corp., Eramen Minerals Inc., Benguet Corp., and Filipinas Mining Corp.