Woggle Corp. on Monday denied claims of harassment and gender-based violence circulating on social media, instead detailing alleged illegal barricades, coercion and the arson of its equipment by an anti-mining group in Nueva Vizcaya province.
The company said its personnel and equipment, including a wheel excavator, were in Barangay Bitnong, Dupax del Norte and Barangay Bua, Kasibu, following Super Typhoon Uwan to clear roads obstructed by landslides at the request of residents and a local barangay office.
Woggle said that on Nov. 14, 2025, after completing clearing work, an anti-mining group erected barricades on established public roads, effectively trapping company and contractor vehicles and personnel.
Despite intervention from residents, local officials and the Philippine National Police (PNP), the company alleged its team was prevented from leaving and subjected to coercion and threats.
“While they portray themselves publicly as defenders of the environment, the conduct exhibited reveals a disregard for the welfare of the communities they claim to represent. In the company’s view, this is not principled advocacy; it is selfish and driven by pride at the expense of others,” Woggle general manager Lorne Harvey said in a statement.
The situation escalated on Dec. 12, 2025, when the company was informed its wheel excavator had been burned, an incident immediately reported to the PNP and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Woggle said the destroyed equipment was critical to post-typhoon disaster response and its burning was “not only unlawful but also inhumane.”
The company said that during an operation coordinated with authorities to extract remaining vehicles, individuals manning the barricade fled, with one striking a vehicle’s windshield and passenger window with a bolo. The remaining vehicles were ultimately extracted with a PNP presence.
“Our employees were there to help communities recover after a typhoon. To accuse them of violence while ignoring the threats, coercion, barricades and arson they faced is both unjust and irresponsible,” said Harvey.
Woggle Corp. said it would pursue all available legal remedies and seek accountability for those responsible for the destruction of property and endangerment of lives.
The company affirmed its commitment to lawful, responsible and sustainable development in the area, guided by dialogue and transparency.
