The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested nine persons and seized ₱17.5 million in evidence during an “illegal mining” crackdown in Barangay Bacuyangan, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, Feb. 26.
The raid resulted in the arrest of nine suspects, including one Chinese national, the CIDG reported on Friday.
The nine suspects were identified only as aliases Xiong (the Chinese national), Bert, Joey, Chris, Rey, Leo, Randy, Dante, and Egay, who were caught while allegedly extracting mineral resources.
The CIDG said the group lacked the necessary mining rights, permits, or agreements from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), rendering the entire operation illegal.
Seized from them were two backhoes, three 10-wheeler dump trucks, a vibrating screen machine and an automatic generator set control panel, and two boxes containing bottles of mercury, the CIDG reported.
The CIDG Negros Occidental Provincial Field Unit conducted the raid in coordination with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Negros Island Region and local police units, the report said.
PMGen.Robert AA Morico II, CIDG Director, in a press statement, said all the mineral resources within the territory and exclusive economic zone of the Philippines are owned by the State.
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure the rational development and conservation of these resources to safeguard the environment and protect affected communities, he said.
“The illegal extraction of mineral resources and illegal quarrying are serious crimes that deplete and endanger our natural heritage,” he added.
The arrested suspects will face charges before the National Prosecution Service for violations of Section 102 (Illegal Exploration) and Section 103 (Theft of Minerals) of Republic Act No. 7942 (Philippine Mining Act of 1995), in relation to Section 3 (c) of Republic Act No. 7076 (People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991), the CIDG said.
The crackdown is in line with the CIDG’s intensified “Oplan Kalikasan”, a nationwide campaign against the unlawful destruction of natural resources.*CPG
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The Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office, in a separate report, said the suspects were caught in flagrante delicto extracting and exploiting mineral resources without the required permits.
Those arrested include equipment operators, drivers, and a mining manager, with some suspects reported to be residents of Negros Occidental and others from Masbate, Surigao, Bukidnon, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Davao Oriental.
Police said the operation stemmed from a report by a concerned citizen, which prompted coordination with the MGB confirmed the absence of mining permits.
After surveillance and validation, authorities conducted the operation and arrested the suspects, the police report said.
The suspects are currently in the custody of the CIDG pending the filing of charges.*MLG
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