Iloilo City –The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office 6 (MGB RO-6) of the DENR apprehended 6 individuals for extracting quarry materials in Brgy. Botongon, Estancia, Iloilo without a valid permit. MGB RO-6 sought the assistance of the PNP in Estancia and 2 police officers conducted the arrest with them.
The MGB RO-6 team carried out the apprehension on June 6, 2019, since the information was available of the illegal activity. “We found out about this operation during random monitoring that our office conducted and confirmed that this operation did not have the necessary permit. We learned further that a cease and desist order was already issued by the Province of Iloilo to the said operation, yet the activity still continued,” said MGB RO-6 regional director Roger A. de Dios.
The suspects who are drivers, laborers and equipment owner/landowner were brought to the PNP station in the municipal office of Estancia, Iloilo. The team confiscated 2 hauling trucks, 1 canter truck and 1 backhoe in the quarry area which are now in the custody of PNP Estancia. They were presented for filing of the case at the Iloilo Hall of Justice last June 7, 2019, for the alleged violation of Section 103 (Theft of Minerals) of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
“We are really serious in pursuing illegal mining activities as mandated by the law. With the help and cooperation of the local government, the PNP and our citizens, we can really minimize if not totally eradicate these illegal mining activities which rob the people of taxes and other benefits that should go to them had these operations been legal and comply with the government’s policies and regulations,” RD de Dios said. (MGB RO-6)