Protests and Adverse Claims.
Section 48
SEC. 48. Protests and Adverse Claims. - Any protest or adverse claim of any nature whatsoever involving the right to possession, lease, exploration or exploitation of any mining claim in any part of the Philippines shall be filed with the Bureau of Mines for investigation and decision pursuant to the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 309 and Letter of Instructions No. 119, as amended by Letter of Instructions No. 135. The protest or adverse claim shall be under oath and shall state in detail the nature thereof and shall be accompanied by all plans, documents, and other data upon which the protest or adverse claim is based. In the case of an adverse claim against a lease application, filed under Section 34 hereof; such adverse claim shall be filed within fifteen (15) days after the first date of publication of the notice of lease application if such claim was not previously investigated and decided under Presidential Decree No. 309. When an adverse claim is filed under this paragraph, all proceedings, except the publication of the notice of application for lease, the submmittal of the affidavit in connection therewith and the processing of applications for temporary permit, shall be stayed until the controversy is settled or decided by the Director: Provided, That the operations and production under a mines temporary permit issued prior to the adverse claim shall be allowed to continue subject to the provisions of Section 33 concerning the posting of bonds.