Apparently to address concerns over the attack of communist rebels on a mining site in South Cotabato early this year, the military on Thursday said soldiers will be sent to mining communities to provide protection.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who keynoted the 8th Asia Pacific Mining Conference in Pasay City, said the deployment of government troops is part of the security plan that’s being drawn up for the mining sector.

In an interview with reporters after his speech, he said more civilian units will be formed in areas where there are both mining activities and communist presence.
He cited the incident early this year where the Valentin Palamine Command of the NPA operating in Central Mindanao raided and burned the main base camp of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) in Tampakan, South Cotabato.

SMI is holder of the Tampakan Copper and Gold Project, which is has over 2.2 billion tons at a grade of 0.6% copper and 0.2 grams per ton gold and contains 12.8 million tons of copper and 15.2 million ounces of gold using a 0.3% copper cut-off grade. It is the biggest in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific region.

Teodoro cited reports that the communist rebel movement is “extorting” money from mining firms to finance its armed rebellion. He said the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed group, the New People’s Army, are a major threat to the development of the mining industry in the country.

The defense chief could not give a figure on the amount channeled into the rebel funds but said it is “substantial.”

Teodoro cautioned the mining firms against bending to the "extortion" by the CPP-NPA.

He assured investors and mining companies at the conference that the government will deal harshly with the CPP-NPA.

Teodoro also said the armed forces is considering an "investment defense plan" to contain security threats facing foreign investors in the country.

He disclosed that the AFP is coordinating with the Philippine National Police to draft security protocols in the light of ongoing security threats.
"We will not bend to any armed rebel groups," Teodoro told reporters after he delivered his speech.

He said the AFP will organize and supervise the creation of more citizen armed forces geographical units (Cafgus) in areas where the NPAs are very active.
He, however, clarified that the Cafgus will serve as a security force for the communities and not for particular mining firms.

The communist rebel movement has vowed to launch armed attacks against mining firms all over the country.

Aside from the CPP-NPA, Teodoro said the Abu Sayyaf Group with ties to the Jemaah Islamiya and the splinter groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are also posing security concerns in areas where there are mining activities, particularly in southwestern Mindanao. (Newsbreak)