5 Chinese nat’ls, 18 others nabbed for illegal mining in MisOr
EIGHTEEN miners, including five Chinese nationals, were arrested for alleged illegal mining operations in Misamis Oriental.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 10 together with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB); North Eastern Mindanao Regional Office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); and the special forces of the Philippine Army (PA) 4th Infantry Division (ID) conducted the raid following reports of illegal activities being undertaken in Iponan River in Opol, Misamis Oriental.
DENR Region 10 Executive Director Henry Adornado said that the report was confirmed through the DENR’s satellite imagery at the DENR Central Office.
The DENR’s satellite imagery was introduced by Secretary Antonia Loyzaga to monitor mining and forestry rules compliance, among others, showing massive excavations and forest destruction.
During the operation, the joint operatives also seized several pieces of heavy equipment, which caused damage to roughly 7.6 hectares of land along the Iponan River.
“I 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,” Loyzaga said in a statement.
“I am calling on concerned government agencies, other stakeholders, and the communities along the Iponan River and elsewhere in the country to take consistent active measures to combat illegal mining operations in their area,” she added.
The suspects were brought to the detention facility of the NBI North Eastern Mindanao Regional Office at Capitol Compound, Cagayan de Oro City, and are now facing charges for violation of several environmental laws, including Republic Act (RA) 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act, RA 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act, and Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Code of the Philippines.
It was learned that the miners have no mining permit while the DENR is still investigating who is the real “financier” or owner. The DENR, however, did not provide the names of the suspects arrested.
Meanwhile, the DENR’s satellite image allowed the different government agencies to monitor and observe mining sites and confirm and track their activities.
Under Loyzaga, whose major thrust on environmental protection and natural resource conservation includes the creation of a national environment and natural resources geospatial database, the DENR has been using current and emerging space science and technology applications across the country.
