MANILA - Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company on Monday defended its mining operations in Benguet after the company was among those recommended for suspension by the environment department.

"There is no reason to suspend our operations. We passed the recent audit of all mines ordered by the DENR, which in our case was completed on August 14, 2016," the company told the stock exchange.

Lepanto said it has an ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management system and has dutifully paid taxes.

Lepanto has yet to receive any notification and its operations continue, the company said.

"For the last 80 years, we have been a good corporate citizen and a caring partner to the community," it added.

Lepanto shares were up 2.62 percent to P0.196 on Monday.

Results of the government audit showed that Lepanto committed four fatal and 11 lost-time accidents and maintained an unregistered treatment, storage and disposal facility.

• READ: 20 mines fail DENR audit, face suspension: Lopez

The operators of the 20 mines that faced suspension were given seven days to respond to the findings of the nearly two-month long inspections.