The legal harassment of anti-mining residents in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya continues. Today, September 24, the Municipal Trial Court of Kasibu and the Regional Trial Court of Bayombong issued separate warrants of arrest against Indigenous People anti-mining leaders Donny Dugay and Municipal Councilor Glenn Guingayan in cases involving cyberlibel and grave coercion.

The warrants follow the filing of three counts of grave coercion against eight environmental defenders from Barangay Kakiduguen in connection with their opposition to North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation’s (NLMRC) mining exploration.

The Center for Environmental Concerns–Philippines (CEC) condemns the continuing use of legal cases against the people defending Kasibu’s land, water, and environment. These cases are acts of intimidation on residents who have maintained barricades against the entry of NLMRC. They also impose legal costs on communities whose members are largely farmers and Indigenous Peoples.

CEC stands with the residents of Kasibu and calls for the dismissal of the cases against Dugay, Guingayan, and other community members. We urge the courts to examine these cases in light of the residents’ environmental advocacy and to uphold their rights to participate in decisions affecting their communities.

We also call on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to cancel NLMRC’s exploration permit in light of the growing number of criminalizations against the residents of Kasibu as well as individuals and organizations who support their advocacy. As residents continue to defend their communities against large-scale mining, we urge civil society to stand with them and support their struggle. An attack on environmental defenders is an attack on the communities and ecosystems they protect.

Drop the charges against Donny Dugay and Glenn Guingayan, and all environmental defenders opposing NLMRC!

Stop the attacks on environmental defenders!

Cancel the exploration permit of NLMRC!

Defend ancestral lands!

For donations toward their bail, you may donate through the following bank accounts.

For Local Donations:

GCASH

Le***n C.

0954 307 ****

Alternative Local Donation Channels:

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GCASH NUMBER: 0926 118 5653

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GCASH NUMBER: 0966 182 9628 

For International Donations: paypal.me/ANVIK2026