Clan leaders of the Manobo Tribe condemned the operations of the ousted president of Philsaga Mining Corporation (PMC) Raul Villanueva, which they mentioned caused strife and division among the tribes in Bunawagan, Agusan del Sur.
Maryjane Rodrigo-Hallasgo and Amatorio Rodrigo, leaders of the Rodrigo Clan of the Manobo tribe, said that Villanueva did not exercise due diligence, allowing the release of royalty share of Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) No. 136 despite their strong opposition.
Rodrigo Clan, the official holder of CADT 136 in Barangay San Andres Bunawan, accused Villanueva of ” jeopardizing the rights of the rightful claimants,” pushing them to declare the ousted president as persona non-grata.
“The Rodrigo Clan were the original settlers in the more than 1,000 hectares that are part of the CADT areas, especially the mine site in Upper Coo, which spans seven generations,” Hallasgo said in vernacular.
PMC clarified that Villanueva no longer represents the company following his termination on February 15, 2023, where he was replaced by Joseph Mahusay, now legal president of the PMC.
Meanwhile, Ten Sixty-Four (X64), the Australian partner of PMC, which has held a 40% share since 2013, also ordered PMC managers to refuse orders from Villanueva following his removal from the post.
However, despite the condemnation of the local tribes and the official executives, Villanueva continues to operate and represent himself as the president of PMC. On June 5, he organized an oath-taking ceremony with the PMC Press Corps, identifying himself as the company’s president.
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