The police arrested seven individuals and seized heavy equipment alongside quarry materials valued at ₱16.025 million during a joint anti-illegal quarrying operation in Hacienda Bag-o, Barangay Crossing Magallon, Moises Padilla, on Tuesday, August 25.
The operation was conducted along the Binalbagan River by the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) of the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR), in coordination with the Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOcPPO), and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB NIR).
The suspects were identified as aliases “Rom,” 44; “Rit,” 30; “Jer,” 28; “Gem,” 37; “Hen,” 40; “Ron,” 42; and “Rit,” 45. The group includes backhoe and dump truck drivers, a quarry checker, and a helper residing across various municipalities in Negros Occidental, the PRO NIR reported.
Law enforcers caught the suspects in the act of extracting, collecting, loading, and transporting sand, gravel, and rocks using heavy machinery. When asked to present valid permits or authorizations required under Republic Act No. 7942 (Philippine Mining Act of 1995), the individuals failed to comply, leading to their immediate arrest, the PRO NIR added.
Seized during the operation were one yellow Longking backhoe, four dump trucks, two record books, a ballpoint pen, and ₱8,000 in cash.
The arrested individuals were informed of their constitutional rights and brought to the Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station for documentation and disposition. The confiscated equipment and items were also turned over to the station for inventory and proper legal processing.
“This is more than an enforcement operation; it is a decisive action to protect what belongs to the people,” PBGen. Romano V. Cardiño, PRO NIR regional director, said.
“We will not stand by while our rivers and natural resources are illegally exploited for personal gain. PRO NIR will remain relentless in stopping illegal quarrying activities, enforcing the law, and holding violators accountable”, he said.*
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