MANILA, Philippines – Arestado ang 18 indibidwal kabilang ang walong Chinese national sa joint operation sa umano’y illegal mining operation sa Surigao del Norte.
Sa kalatas nitong Sabado, Oktubre 17, sinabi ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) na nasamsam din ng mga awtoridad ang heavy equipment at mining paraphernalia na nagkakahalaga ng P153.34 milyon.
“The seized items included two improvised air guns, assorted documents belonging to Chinese nationals, eight dump trucks, five payloaders, 16 truck excavators, eight generator sets, eight pieces of sluice mat, one roll of sluice mat, and four improved sluice machines,” ayon sa DENR.
Sinabi pa ng ahensya na 80 kilo ng mining ore samples ang narekober kasama ang Toyota Hilux pickup truck, dalawang compressor, isang drum ng hydraulic oil, 15 panel boards, pitong battery, dalawang balde ng grease oil, at dalawang dram ng diesel fuel.
“Other items seized included an Armscor shotgun bearing serial number 2522885 and 12 rounds of live shotgun ammunition,” dagdag ng DENR.
Ang mga heavy equipment, conveyances, at ibang mining paraphernalia ay sasailalim sa administrative confiscation proceedings ng Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region XIII.
Samantala, nagpapatuloy ang inquest proceedings sa Surigao City Prosecutor’s Office para sa 18 suspek.
Nahaharap ang mga ito sa reklamong paglabag sa Sections 102 at 103 ng Republic Act 7942, o Philippine Mining Act of 1995, para sa illegal exploration at theft of minerals.
Isinagawa ang joint operation ng DENR at Philippine National Police, sa suporta mula sa iba pang law enforcement personnel, kabilang ang Philippine Air Force. RNT/JGC
