GOVERNMENT authorities arrested 18 people over an alleged illegal mining operation along the Iponan River at Barangay Pigsag-an, Cagayan de Oro City bordering Barangays Cauyonan and Nangcaon in Opol, Misamis Oriental early Saturday (May 13, 2023).
The authorities even said the arrested individuals were reportedly caught red-handed conducting the mining activities in the said areas.
"They were charged particularly illegal extraction and disposition of minerals, most likely gold," said Mine Geo-science Bureau-10 regional director Felizardo A. Gacad, Jr.
Gacad said the said illegal mining activities and violation of other environmental laws resulted in significant damage to the Iponan River.
"Initial estimates show at least 7.3 hectares of damaged or impacted areas supported by the use of time series satellite imagery along that stretch of the Iponan River," Gacad said, adding that the perpetrators left massive excavations and destroyed various indigenous trees in the area purposely to extract precious minerals.
Over a press conference called by the composite team from the regional offices of the environment and natural resources (DENR-10), MGB-10, NBI North Eastern Mindanao Regional Office, and the Army's 4th Infantry Division’s (4ID) 1st Special Forces Company confirmed that 5 of the arrested individuals were Chinese Nationals.
The 5 Chinese nationals are working without the required permit," according to the arresting team.
"Our respective offices will continue to lead the implementation of environmental laws, rules, and regulations throughout Region 10," said Gacad.
Gacad also called on the concerned government agencies, other stakeholders, and the communities along the Iponan River to take consistent active measures to combat illegal mining operations in the area.
"We hope that the recently conducted joint operation and the succeeding monitoring and rehabilitation efforts will bring about positive changes and bring to life again the Iponan River," said Gacad.
NBI NEMRO acting assistant regional director Norman Decampong said the NBI recommended the filing of criminal charges against the 5 Chinese nationals and 13 Filipinos for alleged illegal extraction of minerals along the said portions of Cagayan de Oro and Opol, Misamis Oriental.
The NBI-10, according to Decampong detained the suspects after they were accused of being involved in large-scale illegal mining operations.
“An inquest proceedings are held at the provincial prosecutor's office due to the case of illegal mining,” Decampong said.
Authorities said that the suspects believed that they did quarry operations but gold was the main purpose of their digging in the mountains.
“The suspects were arrested due to the joint operation by the different government agencies in the region,” said Decampong, adding such as the DENR 10, MGB- 10 as well as NBI 10, and Army’s 1st Special Forces Battalion under the 4ID.
"They were caught in the act of doing illegal mining activities and committing violations of other environmental laws in the said portion of the Iponan River," said Department of Environment and Natural Resources 10 legal division chief lawyer Ban Michael Pacuribot.
Pacuribot said the joint operation is so far the biggest operation against illegal mining activities and violation of other environmental laws in the Iponan River.
“So far, this is the biggest success that the government has achieved against these suspects in the issue of illegal mining where a lot of equipment was recovered from the place where the mining took place,” said Pacuribot.
The composite team according to Pacuribot jointly conducted an operation against illegal mining activities and violation of other environmental laws along the said river.
“They are arrested at dawn as they are working in a 24/7 scheme,” said Pacuribot.
Pacuribot identified the 5 arrested aliens as Mingshi Meng, Shen Chuangao, Pan Jiquan, Lou Jian Hui, and Yuan Yin Lin.
While the Filipinos arrested were identified as Ariel Gasal, Rengie Baricuatro, Randy Salcedo, Ranold Paderan, Elmer Dagsaan, Manuel Bahiani, Orlando Duwang, Rachel Saavedra, Ricky Castillo, Christopher Dagsaan and Rj Besonia.
He said, the team also seized during the joint operation 6 Excavators, 1 Fuel Tanker, 1 Boom Truck, 1 Mini Dump Truck, various industrial water pumps, and other mining equipment and materials estimated at roughly 30 million pesos.
The arrested individuals were immediately detained at the detention facility of NBI North Eastern Mindanao Regional Office at Capitol Compound, Cagayan de Oro City, according to Pacuribot.
He also said the successful joint operation was a product of thorough and systematic surveillance, planning, and coordination of the composite team with the help of the concerned citizens who provided material information.
Also, the DENR 10 and MGB 10 extend their deep appreciation to the NBI North Eastern Mindanao Regional Office headed by Regional Director Patricio Bernales, Jr. and the Army’s 4ID commander Major General Jose Maria Cuerpo for providing valuable support and assistance.
Pacuribot said the cases were already filed against the suspects for violation of the following laws: 1. Sec. 103 of R.A. 7942 (Philippine Mining Act), Sec. 27 of R.A. 7076 (Small-Scale Mining Act).
Article 91 (B) sub-paragraphs 3 and 5 of Presidential Decree 1067 or the Water Code of the Philippines (PD 1067), Sec. 8 of Presidential Decree No. 984 or the National Pollution Control Decree of the Philippines (PD 984).
Also of Sec. 27 of the R.A. 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act), PD 705 (Forestry Code of the Philippines), Sec. 27 (a) of R.A. 9149 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act), and Art. 151 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines.
