Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine PresidentRodrigo Duterte asked for the revoking of licenses granted to mining companieswhich are found to be supplying explosives to rebel groups operating in thesouthern region of the Philippines.
This was one of hisinstructions to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) during a meeting of the National SecurityCouncil’s Executive Committee which lasted from March 19 night to March 20early morning, said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.
The President directedthe DENR to revoke the licenses, permits of mining companies violatingexplosive handling rules or reported to be supplying explosives to communistterrorist groups, according to Harry Roque.
Duterte also orderedthat personnel of the military or police also found violating rules onexplosives face automatic expulsion.
The President, inprevious speeches, threatened to close down mining companies financing terrorist groups in thesouthern region, including the New People's Army (NPA).
Defense Secretary DelfinLorenzana also called on NPA fighters to surrender.
According to statisticsof the Philippine army, the NPA has about 3,700 fighters who are operatingmainly in Davao and Caraga regions. Some 30,000 people were killed during conflictsbetween the Government and the NPA over the past half a decade.-VNA
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