Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Tim Cayton said he is the primary target of a coordinated political demolition campaign orchestrated by defeated electoral candidates who are using local mining issues to undermine his credibility.
The lawmaker said efforts to link him to mining operations in Dupax del Norte are intentionally misleading and noted that the controversy began before he took office. Cayton said the issue is being recycled by rivals to weaken the current provincial leadership.
“I have been in Congress only a few months. Decisions and processes related to this issue began long before my term. To pin everything on me is not only inaccurate—it is politically motivated,” Cayton said in a statement.
Cayton said a certification he signed for Woogle Corporation is being misrepresented as an operational permit. He explained that a certification does not constitute legal authority to conduct mining activities under Philippine law.
“A certification is not a permit. Members of Congress do not issue mining permits. That authority belongs to national regulatory agencies. Presenting documents without context is misleading the public,” Cayton said.
The congressman said the mining issue has been oversimplified and weaponized by political actors who failed to secure seats in the last elections. He alleged these individuals are seeking to regain relevance by attacking officials who won the public mandate.
“This controversy is being used to manufacture a negative narrative. The objective is not environmental protection but political damage—directed not only at me but at elected officials who won the people’s mandate,” Cayton said.
Cayton reaffirmed his opposition to mining and insisted that any environmental or regulatory concerns should be resolved through established legal channels rather than through misinformation or political grandstanding.
The representative noted his history with the region, having served as Dupax del Norte mayor for 9 years prior to his election to Congress. He said his long-standing connection to the town makes it impossible for him to support activities that would harm the community.
Cayton urged the public to scrutinize the facts and remain skeptical of narratives led by political resentment.
