British mining corp in the Philippines unleashes violence against locals – activists stage sit-in at London office

Activists staged a sit-in at the London offices of Metals Exploration PLC on 26 January. This was in protest of human rights violations and environmental destruction linked to its subsidiary, Woggle Corporation, a British-owned mining company operating in the Philippines.

Interestingly, in September 2025, Metals Exploration PLC listed its largest single shareholder as Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy.

The protest condemns the escalating repression faced by farming and Indigenous communities in Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, where residents are resisting Woggle Corporation’s mining exploration.

Violence inflicted by mining company goons at Dupax Del Norte

Woggle Corporation has been linked to the violent arrest and repression of local farmers and indigenous peoples opposing its mining exploration. In June 2025, Woggle Corporation obtained an exploration permit covering 3,100 hectares, the equivalent to approximately 4,000 football fields.

ICHRP Britain is leading the British Mining Out of the Philippines campaign along with London-Philippine Solidarity and others in a growing campaign coalition.

Helen Brewer from ICHRP Britain says:

The situation in Dupax del Norte is emblematic of the Filipino people’s long history of resisting foreign mining giants in the country. ICHRP Britain condemns these vicious attacks and stands in solidarity with the Filipino people’s rightful defence of land, livelihood and community.

Sam Martin from LPS says:

We have staged this sit in to bring the struggle of the people of Dupax Del Norte against Woggle Corporation to its parent company Metals Exploration PLC, based right here in London. I met with Florentino and other land defenders in Dupax Del Norte in September when we visited the community.

When I was there, one thing was clear, the people of Dupax Del Norte – indigenous people, land defenders, farmers, women and young people alike – are steadfast in opposing mining on their lands. In the face of such overwhelming resistance, the only thing left to do for a British company like Woggle is to down tools and go home.

We want to show the people of Dupax Del Norte that we stand with them – while you fight Woggle there, we’ll fight them here.

The Philippines is the fifth most mineral-rich country in the world and remains the deadliest country in Asia for land and environmental defenders. Foreign mining companies aggressively target the country, while local communities bear the brunt of environmental harm and destruction caused by extraction.

Mining operations in the Philippines have a long association with deforestation, watershed destruction, loss of livelihoods, and disasters worsened by climate change.

People’s barricade and resistance

In September 2025, residents of Dupax del Norte established a physical barricade to prevent the entry of mining equipment into their communities and deforestation. On 23 January, representatives from Woggle Corporation and more than 300 members of the Philippines National Police (PNP) and SWAT units violently dispersed and arrested several land and environmental defenders.

Florentino Daynos, a resident and local anti-mining community leader arrested in the raid, said:

Why are we fighting against mining? Because it is a battle for the next generation to come. This battle is not only about our livelihoods, but about life. This battle is about our children, and our children’s children.

Local government bodies and community organisations are calling for the revocation of Woggle Corporation’s exploration permit and an immediate halt to mining operations in the area.

Featured image supplied