MANILA — A Palawan-based local official has accused a mining company of causing flooding, environmental destruction, and alleged regulatory violations.

Speaking before a Senate committee hearing on Sunday, Brooke’s Point Vice Mayor Mary Jean Feliciano said operations of Ipilan Nickel Corporation (INC) had generated billions of pesos in revenue but left local communities dealing with environmental damage.

The hearing was conducted by the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Feliciano, appearing as a resource person, described what she said were repeated environmental violations linked to the company’s operations in Brooke’s Point.

Flooding and Environmental Damage

Feliciano told senators that the company’s mining operations, located in the mountainous watershed areas of Brooke’s Point, have contributed to repeated flooding in nearby communities.

“Sa kasalukuyan po in 2020 ito na ang kinita ng kanilang kompanya sa aming bayan, humigit kumulang 20 billion po, 2023 ay 2.7 billion, 2024 more than 2 billion pesos, 2025 ay 2.1 billion pero ang kapalit naman nun ay kahit walang bagyo, malakas lang ang ulan ay binabaha na po, ilang beses na kaming binaha, tatlong beses na kung saan ay nasasalanta ang maraming mahihirap at magsasaka,” Feliciano said.

She explained that the mine sits above the town’s watershed and agricultural areas.

“Ever since Impilan Nickel Mining began its operations in Brooke’s Point, we have been experiencing flooding, because the mine is located at the top of our mountains, which serve as the watershed of Brooke’s Point. And below that is the rice granary of the barangays,” she said.

“Many farmers are no longer planting rice now because their farmland was turned into roads for the trucks to pass through… Many fishermen have also left us because the seabed has become muddy.”

Feliciano further alleged that the company had failed to comply with environmental safeguards from the beginning of its operations.

According to her testimony, more than 27,000 trees were cut in 2018 despite the cancellation of the firm’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). She also claimed the company continued to operate without a mayor’s permit and without clearance from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

Suspension After Cease Order

Feliciano recounted that she had issued a cease-and-desist order against the company while serving as mayor of Brooke’s Point.

“When I issued cease and desist order… I was suspended by the Ombudsman for one year. Ramdam na ramdam namin sa Brooke’s Point ang kapangyarihan ni Joseph Sy sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan,” she said.

Questions Over Citizenship

The hearing also examined questions surrounding Sy’s citizenship.

Senator Hontiveros previously alleged that Sy may have been born in Fujian, China, under the name Shi Zhenzhong or Chen Zhong Zhen, and later moved to the Philippines as a teenager. She said his fingerprints were found to match those of a Chinese national.

The senator also cited Sy’s reported role as honorary chair of the Philippine Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce and alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party.

When asked to respond to the accusations about the company’s operations, Sy distanced himself from its day-to-day management.

“I have no comment because we have a professional management team,” he said.

He added that the company had provided assistance to indigenous communities affected by the mining activities.

However, Hontiveros questioned the explanation, arguing that as chief executive officer, Sy should be aware of the company’s operations. She also referenced reports alleging that the company had bribed local residents to obtain consent for mining activities.

The Senate committee said it would continue examining both the environmental allegations and the legality of Sy’s citizenship.

📷 Senate of the Philippines