ISRI wants peaceful end to issue on guards and small-scale miners
By: Nonnette C. Bennett
In a statement issued on 1 October 2025, the Itogon Interbarangay Alliance (IIB-A) expressed concern over a violent incident involving armed security guards of Sangilo Mines and pocket miners in Barangay Poblacion, Itogon which Itogon- Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI) claims as a misinformation. ISRI management told Cordillera News Agency (CNA) on 7 October 2025 in a message that it is wanting to peacefully settle the issue in the proper forum.
In the statement released online, IIB-A said that ISRI security guards ransacked the pocket mines of local miners and that some of them were beaten up and seriously injured. The incident was allegedly caught on video by Mr. Ramon Palingpingan Fianza.
ISRI commented that a security team was on a routine patrol on 1 October, and they rested awhile in the shanty of a Small Scale Mine (SSM). A security personnel member was allegedly maliciously attacked from behind by a miner and this caused a commotion between the two groups.
After the miners were restrained, both parties agreed to de-escalate the situation and discussed what transpired.
Three security personnel wearing body cameras were injured in the incident. The footage recording what transpired. According to ISRI management, the video shown in social media is not the actual video of what happened at about 1:30 p.m. ISRI said that it wants to settle the matter in the proper forum and restore the harmonious relationship in the community.
According to ISRI, the tension could have been sparked by the 1 October commitment to government regulators and ISRI by the SSMs to vacate the area because the shallow blasting that was causing slope instability and endangering the mine road and safety of the passersby. A landslide occurred directly above the SSM area because of TC Isang causing urgent safety and environmental concerns. On the said date, the miners showed no intention to fulfill the promise, according to ISRI statement given to CNA.
