By Genalyn Kabiling
The government is cracking down on mining companies and government troops providing support to communist terrorists in the country.
President Duterte has authorized the revocation of permits of mining firms that provide explosives to the rebel group, according to his spokesman Harry Roque.
The President’s directive was issued during a meeting with top security officials in Malacañang last Monday night.
“The President directed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to revoke the licenses, permits of mining companies violating explosive handling rules or reported to be supplying explosives to communist terrorist groups,” Roque said during a Palace news conference.
Included in the President’s directive are mining firms that provide and finance “instruments of mass destruction” to the communist rebels, Roque added.
Roque also warned that military and police who are found violating laws on explosives would face “automatic expulsion.”
The President earlier threatened to shut down mining companies financing the New People’s Army (NPA) by paying revolutionary taxes to the rebels. He acknowledged that mining companies would not thrive if they do not give money to the insurgents.
“If I go against the NPAs, the communists, everybody else has to reconfigure your relationship with the NPA. Because if you continue to support financially, I will close you down,” Duterte said.
Apart from the threat of the communists, the President also tackled the welfare of the indigenous people in Mindanao during the Palace meeting.
Roque said the President has ordered the creation of a task force to address the plight of the indigenous people of Mindanao.
He said security measures against the threat of violence of terrorists especially in ports and terminals as well as efforts to secure the Philippine Rise were also discussed in the meeting at the Palace.
