Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippine mining industry on Tuesday denied reports of funding a plot to destabilize President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration.
“Our member companies vehemently deny any involvement in any destabilization efforts against the administration,” the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said in a statement.
It cleared its members of any involvement in plots to unseat Duterte, and reiterated support for and cooperation with him and his administration.
“The Chamber of Mines fully support the administration of President Duterte and are unaware of any mining company that is supportive of any destabilization efforts against the administration,” it said of the 82 mining companies in its membership roster.
“We condemn such efforts and reaffirm our commitment to work with this administration, and to follow the law and the Constitution,” the group added.
The statement from the Chamber of Mines followed remarks on Monday by Duterte, where he said he was considering a ban on mining as he expressed dismay over the destruction of the country’s environment because of irresponsible mining practices.
An exasperated Duterte, speaking to reporters in Malacañang, held up pictures showing how mining destroyed bodies of water in parts of the Philippines.
“Explain to me… and you explain well to me (what happened here). Explain to us, to the lawmakers such degradation,” said the President, who was spoke at the press briefing seated in between Senate President Koko Pimentel and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, both known administration allies.
Duterte said the ₱70 billion (US$ 1.4 billion) in revenues that the mining industry brought in annually was meaningless if its end results were devastation of natural resources.
Read: Exasperated Duterte mulls mining ban
However, the Chamber of Mines said images displayed by Duterte in the press briefing “show active mining areas and do not present a complete picture of responsible mining.”
It said its member companies are working toward “ensuring that mining is done under the highest standards and using the best technology available.”
The President has said he is willing to sit down with mining firms, in a closed-door meeting or with the media present.
“Maybe it would be worth the while of Gina (Lopez) to reimpose the ban. Total (mining ban) muna tayo, tapos mag-usap. Dito, magprangka-prangkahan tayo [Total ban in the meantime then let’s lay our cards down],” said Duterte, referring to Environment Secretary Gina Lopez.
Lopez is now facing an uphill battle at the Commission on Appointments, after her controversial move to close 23 mining sites and cancel 75 mining contracts. Duterte has repeatedly stood by Lopez.
Related: Mining firms vow legal battle vs DENR order
CNN Philippines’ Eimor Santos and Alex Ho contributed to this report.
