By Alexander Lopez
BUTUAN CITY – Nineteen individuals were arrested on Monday in Agusan del Sur for violations of Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
The suspects, all residents of Davao de Oro province, were caught transporting 76 sacks of illegally mined mineral ores on board three separate vehicles.
“They were intercepted by the personnel of the Second Agusan del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Bunawan Police Station at a checkpoint in Barangay Bunawan Brooks in Bunawan town,” Maj. Jennifer Omiter, chief of the information office of the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13), said in an interview on Tuesday.
She added that the individuals failed to present legal documents allowing them to transport the mineral ores.
The confiscated ores were immediately turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for proper verification and assessment.
The arrested suspects are now in custody at the local police station, awaiting the filing of charges for violating the mining code.
“I commend our personnel for the successful arrest of the suspects. The total amount and value of the seized ore minerals have yet to be determined, as our investigators are coordinating with the proper government agency for assessment,” said PRO-13 director Brig. Gen. Marcial Mariano Magistrado IV in a separate statement. (PNA)
