ENVIRONMENT Secretary Lito Atienza on Thursday warned mining and environmental law violators anew that they will face the full force of the law after the recent apprehension of some 200,000 metric tons (MT) of nickel ore worth $4 million in a private pier in Sta. Cruz, Zambales.

Atienza said combined elements from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) confiscated the nickel ore at the private pier of A3 Una Corp. in Bolitoc.

"Violators of our mining and environmental laws pose a great danger to our people and communities. I will not tolerate their activities and they will suffer severe sanctions," Atienza warned.

MGB Region 3 director Ansel-mo Abungan, who joined the team that made the seizure, said they found approximately four boatloads of nickel ore. He said A3 Una failed to show proof that these were legally sourced. "We will not release these minerals until the company submits documents showing that the minerals were legally sourced, such as ore transport permits (OTP), mining permits, operating agreements and the like," Abungan said.

Failing that, Abungan said the minerals will be used as evidence of illegal mining and A3 Una can be held liable for mineral theft which is punishable by up to six years in jail.

The seizure came after the MGB, the Environmental Management Bureau and DENR Region 3 investigated the complaint of Zambales Chromite Mining Corp., Eramen Minerals Inc., Benguet Corp., and Filipinas Mining Corp. that A3 Una had been mining in their permit areas without their consent. The first three firms have existing Mineral Production Sharing Agreements in Sta. Cruz, while Filipinas has prior right over the area. - Job T. Realubit