Bridge blown up near Zambales mine

MASINLOC, Philippines – A vital bridge leading to a mine site in Masinloc, Zambales was blown up before dawn on Sunday, March 3, officials said.

No injuries were reported in the 2 am explosion on the road that connects the town of Masinloc with the Coto mine site, according to Zambales police chief inspector Pancho Doble.

Investigators recovered pieces of burnt electrical wire probably from the bomb detonated to destroy the bridge leading to the chromium mine site.

Coto has been the subject of a dispute between the provincial government and Consolidated Mining Inc. after Zambales Gov Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. issued small-scale mining permits that allegedly encroached into the area claimed by a larger company.

Witnesses said they saw a truck with the logo of the Zambales provincial government emblazoned with Ebdane’s slogan “Sulong Zambales” parked near the area before the explosion occurred, but authorities told reporters that they did not see any vehicle matching that description.

Coto has also been tagged by security forces as a hot spot of New People’s Army activities. – with reports from Randy V. Datu and Carlos Santamaria/Rappler.com