CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso has challenged a mining firm to disprove allegations that it has co-opted with China in literally leveling off mountains in Sta. Cruz, Zambales to provide the Chinese with materials for artificial islands at Scarborough Shoal.
The firm was identified as LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. in Barangay Guinabon. It owns the Sta. Cruz nickel mining project whose resident manager Deody Solee admitted that soil materials extracted from the area were transported to China, but he denied they eventually landed at Scarborough.
The Scarborough Shoal is being claimed by both the Philippines and China.
Deloso said, however, that the company has more explaining to do. He said that if the firm exported materials to China, it must have first obtained required documents from the government, including Coast Guard permit.
The governor said that two other firms, identified as Eramen Minerals Inc. and Bengetcorp Nickel Mines Inc. have also levelled down two mountains in Sta. Cruz, thereby destroying thousands of threes, including the rare Mindoro pine tree. The mining operations were at their peak during the term of his predecessor.
