ENVIRONMENTALISTS AGAINST MINING: THE HISTORY OF REPRESSION OF FCF MINERALS

Environmentalists, along with indigenous activists and scientists, trooped to the office of FCF Minerals at Salcedo Towers, Makati City on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 in condemnation of the large-scale mining operations of Woggle Corporation in Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya and the violent dispersal of the barricade that led to the illegal arrest of 7 residents of Brgy. Bitnong, Sitio Keon.

Woggle Corporation is an affiliate of FCF Minerals Inc. and became a subsidiary of the London-based Metals Exploration Plc. in September 2005. They are one of the largest mining companies at the forefront of the extraction of minerals and ores in Nueva Vizcaya and known for operating the Runruno Gold-Molybdenum Project in Quezon.

Previous data from 2014 released by FCF Minerals revealed that they operated over 837 drill holes in Quezon which covers a vast expanse of over 117,647 meters which are also utilized by their mining associates. They estimate that Runruno, in 2014, will mine over 17.9 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 1.84 grams per tonne of gold which totals to over 1.06 million ounces of gold over the mine's lifespan of 10.3 years.

While this data estimation presents great prosperity at the time, a corresponding research from IBON Foundation in 2015 found that over 97% of the produced minerals and ores are sent to foreign industries. Data from AGHAM - Advocates of Science and Technology for the People estimates that over 85% of the total mineral value created by our mines since 1997 are sent to other foreign nations.

Furthermore, a National Fact-Finding and Solidarity Mission (NFSM) in 2013 led by Nagkakaisang Nueva Vizcayano para sa Kalikasan (ANNVIK), Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Katribu), and Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment unearthed cases of harassment, militarization, land-grabbing, biodiversity loss, and water pollution.

Particularly in Runruno, FCF minerals led the demolition of more than a hundred families in preparation for the operation of their gold and copper mine. In 2012, local police were ordered to break through the barricades in Runruno which led to the injury of six members within the community. In addition, they also filed criminal cases of attempted homicide and arson against the residents of the community.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗖𝗙 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁. These cases are not isolated incidents but a genuine reflection of the political violence that is found at the backdrop of mining operations whose residual effects are often portrayed by its environmental degradation.

Sectoral organizations have actively called for the immediate abolition of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 which allowed 100% foreign ownership of large-scale mining projects through the Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA). Progressive groups argued that the aforementioned law paved the way for the entry of large-scale foreign mining corporations which has shown to have severe effects on the environment and the livelihood of its people.

Cleng Julve from Agham states that despite overwhelming opposition from the people of Dupax del Norte their grievances fall on deaf ears. The rule of law has been weaponized in service of foreign entities who pillage our land in order to profit off our natural resources.

“We must cast out large foreign entities and corporations from our shores. We must make use of our own wealth and create our own industries that produce local necessities that are utilized by us, the Philippines, and the people from the communities,” states Julve.

Woggle Corporation, out now!

Save Nueva Vizcaya!

Defend Environmental Defenders!