GUIUAN, Eastern Samar– Residents of Homonhon Island, this town, expressed their anxiety after 50 policemen descended to their island.
The policemen, who are members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, 8th Regional Public Safety Battalion and from the police municipal station of Guiuan, arrived at the island last Feb.8 purportedly to ensure peace will be maintained there after a dispute broke out between two mining companies.
The residents said that while they do not feel threatened with the presence of the police in their island, they still find it uncomfortable having them.
The team was in Homonhon Island to maintain the peace and order of the island after Cambayas Mining Corporation president Yan Ming went to the island to enforce a liquidation order against TechIron Resources Incorporated issued by a regional trial court in Taguig City.
Cambayas filed a claim in court alleging that TechIron is not compliant on a profit sharing agreement that they have entered.
TechIron maintained that based on their agreement, sharing will come from the net income of the operation.
In November 2018, the court issued a resolution in favor of Cambayas reason why its officials wanted it to be implement even in the absence of a court sheriff.
“We feel threatened. Most residents are afraid to leave their house. Some even say that we were like in Marawi,” Jonalyn Anos, village council member of Barangay Casuguran.
Anos relayed the sentiments of the island residents to the officials of mining companies who came to Homonhon Island accompanied by their respective lawyers.
During the meeting, Urbano E. Garado Jr., village chairman of Canawayun, asked the two erring mining companies to settle the problem in proper court.
“This problem is too big for us to handle. I suggest that you settle this in court,” Garado said.
After a long debate, the two sides agreed to have the policemen pulled out from the island to the relief of the islanders.
TechIron is one of the three mining firms which have mining claims in the historic island Homonhon.
The other two are Mt. Sinai Mining Exploration and Development Corp.; and Emir Minerals Corp.
Of the three, only TechIron continue to conduct mining activity in the island. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
