Twin blasts hit mining compound in Palawan

MANILA, Philippines - A twin explosion rocked the mining compound of the Ribo Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation in Bataraza, Palawan on Tuesday evening, the Armed Forces' Western Command (Wescom) reported Thursday.

1st Lt. Cherry Tindog, Wescom spokesperson, said combined military and police probers are still conducting an investigation into the twin blasts that occurred inside the mining compound at about 10 p.m.

“Along with the Palawan police, the Marine Battalion Landing Team 12 (MBLT-12) probers are now conducting a probe on the power blasts at the compound of mining corporation,” Tindog in a press statement said.

In an initial probe, Tindog said no one was hurt in the incident with investigators still trying to determine if the twin explosions were related to the ongoing campaign against the operation of the mining firm in the province.

Environmental groups have been highly critical to all mining operations in the province with the communist insurgents, who are trying to establish their presence in the area, actively riding on this issue.

Only recently, the rebels raided a pearl farm owned by President Aquino’s uncle, business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, in Cagdanao Island in Taytay town and escaped with eight shotguns and five hand-held radios they seized from the civilian securing personnel guarding the facility.