Human Rights Watch called on Philippine prosecutors to dismiss cyber-libel criminal complaints filed by North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation against two lawyers and two community leaders in Nueva Vizcaya province. The legal actions target advocates representing Indigenous Bugkalot and Ilangot communities who opposed mining exploration permits without prior local consultation.
Criminal Cyber-Libel Complaints Target Kasibu Legal Defense
According to Human Rights Watch, North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation filed a criminal cyber-libel complaint in July 2026 against lawyers Fidel Santos and Edgardo Balgos. The complaint stems from statements made by the attorneys on Facebook and a radio broadcast. The lawyers publicly alleged that the mining company failed to consult local farmers and Indigenous residents affected by proposed operations in Kasibu town, Nueva Vizcaya.
Cyber-libel is categorized as a criminal offense under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, carrying prison sentences ranging from six to 12 years. Lian Buan, Southeast Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated that Philippine prosecutors should dismiss complaints utilized by corporations to silence communities raising concerns about business operations. Buan also urged Philippine legislators to revive bills designed to help authorities block such lawsuits from proceeding.
Land Rights Petitions and Permitting Timeline
The legal dispute emerged after local residents filed a petition on July 14 before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The petition seeks to cancel the company’s mining exploration permit, arguing that the corporation did not adequately consult communities. Residents maintain that they hold a Certificate of Land Ownership Award confirming land rights as agrarian reform beneficiaries, and note that the territory serves as a protected watershed under local laws.
In its complaint filed on July 2, North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation stated that it conducted consultations with two communities twice in March 2024. The company subsequently received an exploration permit on June 25, 2025, covering 4,455 hectares across multiple villages. The firm maintains it holds a certification from the Philippine National Commission on Indigenous Peoples indicating the permit area does not overlap with recognized ancestral domains.
Strategic Lawsuits and Impact on Legal Representation
Human Rights Watch characterized the recurring criminal complaints against community leaders and their legal counsel as Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation, commonly known as SLAPPs. Attorney Fidel Santos noted the sequential nature of the filings, stating that the company targeted community leaders initially before directing legal actions at their defense counsel.
Edgardo Balgos emphasized that the prosecution of defense lawyers creates a chilling effect on local populations seeking legal recourse. Florentino Daynos, a community leader, faces a separate cyber-libel complaint filed by the company on June 19 following his support for a community barricade against mining exploration in Kasibu. On June 3, Daynos and another leader, Anthony Glenn Guingayan Sr., received notifications regarding additional cyber-libel complaints brought by other Nueva Vizcaya residents.
The company filed its complaints in Isabela province, where the firm is based, requiring defendants and lawyers to travel approximately four hours for preliminary investigations. Human Rights Watch and international observers, including United Nations special rapporteurs, have repeatedly criticized the deployment of cybercrime laws to suppress free speech and environmental advocacy in the Philippines.
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