Environmental groups protest PNP over Nueva Vizcaya mining barricade

Environmental organizations spearheaded by the Kasibu Intertribal Response for Ecological Development (Kired) have condemned the Philippine National Police for allegedly harassing activists maintaining a barricade against a mining operation in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. The groups brought their complaints to Camp Crame in Manila on Thursday, staging a protest outside PNP headquarters to draw attention to the situation. The barricade represents ongoing community resistance to the proposed mining venture in the Nueva Vizcaya municipality. The allegations of police harassment highlight tensions between environmental advocates and law enforcement as local communities work to prevent development projects they view as environmentally damaging. The demonstration underscores broader conflicts in the Philippines between resource extraction interests and conservation efforts, particularly in regions where indigenous and local communities depend on forests and natural resources for their livelihoods.