The mining firm Benguet Corp. said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had cleared it of administrative and environmental charges filed by an official in Zambales province, northwest of Manila.

In a statement, Benguet said reports prepared by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources, Community Environment and Natural Resources, and Environmental Management Bureau of the Central Luzon region showed that the accusations made by Danilo Merced, chairman of the village council of Lomboy village in Santa Cruz town were "unfounded."

Merced's allegations against the mining firm were endorsed by Santa Cruz Mayor Luisito Marty to Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Joselito Atienza.

Benguet said the reports, which were submitted to the DENR Regional Office, in Pampanga province, "closely approximate the result of the investigation of the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board on the same complaint, which it found to be baseless and recommended to be administratively closed."

It said that contrary to Merced’s allegation, its mining area would be in the villages of Guisguis and Guinabon, and not in Lomboy.

Benguet added it was also constructing its own haul roads and was not using the village roads for its operations as claimed by Merced.

It said Geodetic surveys showed that the road it was constructing was not in Lomboy but belonged to neighboring Guisguis.

It added that the investigating team found "no mining firm had operated in the Lomboy area from December 2006 to March 2007, except A3 ONA Mining Corp., which was found to be responsible for the dust and dirt pollution” in Lomboy. Amy R. Remo; edited by INQUIRER.net