By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

With the ongoing ownership dispute at the closed Maricalum Mining Corporation (MMC) site in Sipalay City, local police chief, Police Chief Inspector Romeo Vargas, during a recent interview, vowed to remain impartial on the matter.

After National Mines and Allied Workers Union (NAMAWU) Local 103 President Melecio Libo-on, Jr. recently accused local police of slow response time, or not showing up at all, Vargas said they cannot readily respond at times, especially during the evening hours, as there is a concern regarding New People’s Army (NPA) presence in the area.

However, he pointed out, Sipalay City is very peaceful.

“The only place here giving us a headache is the MMC mining site,” Vargas added.

Last week, Libo-on said their group is confident President Rodrigo Duterte will intervene over the ongoing ownership dispute.

“Many of us already died waiting for our dues,” he said. “The next of kin have replaced them and [are now] working with us to get what we should have received many years ago.”

He said they have been waiting for 22 years, after the courts decide the union had the right to recover dues after the mining firm closed.

The union leader also voiced concerns over the possibility of scrap and other properties being taken from the former mining site, which they claim belongs to them./DGB, WDJ