2 months ago
18
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
TWO Koreans and nine Filipinos were arrested for transporting illegally mined mineral resources in the hinterlands of Barangay San Vicente, Butuan City, a belated report said.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III identified the Korean suspects as Joung Whan Oh, Young Gwan Mun, both businessmen.
He, however, identified the arrested Filipino suspects only with their aliases as John, Jenalyn, Herbert, Jenie, Noel, Macky, Beth, Marvin and Elmer.
Prior to the arrest, operatives from the CIDG and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 13 conducted an operational campaign against the unlawful destruction of natural resources in Barangay San Vicente on March 21.
As authorities were about to leave, they caught the suspects red-handed transporting 500 sacks of suspected copper ore minerals.
Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
The minerals, valued at P700,000, were found in a Hyundai trailer truck and a KIA Bongo.
"They are transporting the minerals without the necessary mining rights, permits, or agreements from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and other proper authorities, thus, illegal," Torre said in a statement.
Also seized during the operation were mining tools, testing solutions, and other related materials used in illegal mineral extraction.
The arrested suspects will be charged with violations of Sections 101 (Illegal Exploration), 103 (Theft of Minerals), and 110 (Transporting Minerals Without a Permit) of Republic Act 7942 (Philippine Mining Act of 1995).
Torre said that all mineral resources in public and private lands within the territory and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines are owned by the state.
He added that the state promotes its rational exploration, development, utilization and conservation through the combined efforts of government and the private sector in order to enhance national growth in a way that effectively safeguards the environment and protects the rights of affected communities.
Torre then assured of a relentless drive to catch all violators and criminals, local or foreign nationals alike, and steadfast in implementing all laws of the land.
"We urge the public to report all violations and illegal activities concerning our environment, such as illegal fishing, illegal mining, illegal quarrying, illegal logging and related environmental crimes," he said.
