Five mining companies in Zambales blamed for the destruction of the enrivonment in the area now risk of being shut down.
Acting on a petition of the residents of Sta. Cruz, Zambales, the Supreme Court issued a Writ of Kalikasan against Benguet Nickel Mines Inc., Eramen Minerals Inc., LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc., Zambales Diversified Metals Corp. and Shangfil Mining and Trading Corp.
“The court found the petition sufficient in form and substance to merit the issuance of the Writ of Kalikasan,” said Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te.
The Supreme Court has already ordered the Court of Appeals to conduct hearings on the petition.
The high court also ordered the mining companies and DENR to file verified returns of the writ within 10 days.
In their petition, the residents of Sta. Cruz, Zambales are asking the high court to stop the operations of the mining companies due to the destruction it has caused to their environment.
Mining operations have also caused forest denudation in the area.
They also claim that their irrigation system has been destroyed by mining and their livelihood was heavily affected.
(RODERIC MENDOZA/UNTV NEWS)
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