COMMUNIST guerillas justified the disarming of five private security guards contracted by Minergy Power Corporation, saying the company "induced grave legal injury and harmed the residents and the people."
A statement released by a certain Ka Norsen Manggubat of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) North Central Mindanao Region said dwellers already suffer dislocation from their homes and livelihood when the company started operations.
The group claimed that people detested Minergy and other "anti-people" and "anti-environment" multinational companies.
"As soon as Minergy started its operation, health risks among the residents were evident. Coal ashes were on top of vegetable leaves. It was observed that the coal ash was coming from ash lagoon dumped from discharge facility," the statement read.
The CPP also accused Minergy of causing massive fish kill, adding that amidst the existence of energy companies in Misamis Oriental, the people are still deprived of fair energy services from the government.
"Minergy has also been assertive and overconfident because of the presence of its security guards armed with high-powered rifles. Moreover, the 58th Infantry Battalion also boosts the foreign company's security forces," the CPP said.
"Therefore, this will serve as a warning to Minergy and other companies who are only serving for the interest of profit. The revolutionary movement is ever determined to paralyze and halt Mineryg's operation," it added.
However, Minergy said in an earlier statement that since 2015, the company has been establishing and maintaining reforestation sites as part of its commitment to safeguarding the environment.
Minergy said the property, located approximately 12 kilometers from the power plant in Barangay Mandangoabeing and guarded by private security personnel, now serves as the company's site for one of its reforestation projects which grows native hardwood trees in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the town's local government unit.
The company claimed that more than 3,500 native hardwood tree seedlings were already been planted in Quezon and Kibanban villages, benefiting the local communities, with whom Minergy has partnered from seedlings preparation to tree planing and tree growing.
"Minergy Power Corporation will continue to nurture strong partnerships with the local communities in advancing its commitment for social development," Minergy said.