CITINICKEL Mines and Development Corp. on Tuesday denied an earlier claim of its rival Platinum Group Metals Corp. that the Supreme Court (SC) has decided with finality the validity of Platinum’s operating agreement with Oriental Mineral Resources Corp., Citinickel’s parent firm.

Speaking through its lawyer, Lea Picar, Citinickel said that what the SC has decided was which forum has the jurisdiction to hear and decide on the issue of Platinum’s operating agreement with Oriental.

Picar said the Second Division of the Supreme Court, by a vote of 3-2, has decided early this month that the Regional Trial Court in Palawan, not the Panel of Arbitrators of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, has the jurisdiction on the issue, which triggered the filing and counter filing of several petitions for certiorari by the two mining firms.

“It’s the forum issue, not the validity issue, which the SC has decided,” Picar said as she chided Platinum for spreading wrong information and its failure to mention at least one paragraph of the SC’s decision.

Considering the closeness of the vote, Picar said Citinickels plans to file a motion for reconsideration before the High Court.

Picar clarified that the SC does not in anyway alter the current situation, as she reiterated that Citinickel still owns the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement on the 2,000-hectare nickel-rich site in two towns in Palawan.

Also, Picar said Oriental has earlier decided to cancel its operating agreement with Platinum three years ago after it has found out to have committed what it regarded gross violations of its contract and for being “irresponsible.”

Picar said it would appear that Platinum has overstretched its interpretation of the Supreme Court decision, which was penned by Associate Justice Arturo Brion.

“The key matter in resolving all four petitions involves the issue of jurisdiction – that is, which body has the authority to hear and decide the dispute between Olympic/Citinickel and Platinum, as parties to the operating agreement,” the Supreme Court said.