By MELODY J. COSEP
ALABEL, Sarangani (November 24, 2014) – No illegal miners were arrested but lawmen who swooped down in an illegal mining enclave were able to seize mining tools, explosives, and equipment.
The anti-illegal mining operation was conducted by the composite team of Sarangani Provincial Police Office (SPPO), Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) XII, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (LGU-PENRO) on November 10 at Sitio Kafugan, Barangay Nalus in Kiamba.
The seized illegal mining tools were one set of generator with engine (Yongchai), two pieces of electrical fuse, one piece of disposable lighter, one piece Safex-3 explosive-Class 2, one piece of blasting cap, one piece of flashlight, three pieces of detonating cord with blasting caps, one roll of exhaust hose, one piece of mallet, one piece of shovel, three pieces of pump belt, one piece of hacksaw, and more or less 60 pieces of Superdyne Explosives.
Three open makeshift shanties that served as roofing of portal tunnel with more or less 150 meters depth, bunkhouse and dirty kitchen of miners were also found.
The team went to the area by travelling for eight hours along the rugged roads of Barangay New La Union, Maitum and Barangay Nalus, arriving in the site at around 6:30am..
According to SPPO chief Sr. Supt. Emmanuel Peralta who was the overall supervisor of the operation, it was in the year 2010 when reports arose that small-scale mining started to exist in the mountain of Sitio Kafugan. These reports were confirmed after operations have been conducted by the joint teams of PNP Sarangani and Philippine Army on July 19, 2010.
Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon and Cong. Manny Pacquiao have been stringent in prohibiting any unlawful activity in the province. In a press conference held at Capitol last month, Gov. Solon affirmed that the provincial government is against illegal gambling, mining and timber poaching but is pro-sustainable development.
Municipal officials are also mobilizing at their level to run against the offenders. Mayor Raul Martinez has been supportive and at the same time leads in the confiscation of illegal logs and in the prevention of illegal mining operations in his town.
Illegal small-scale mining is a violation of Republic Act No. 7076 or the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991 punishable by imprisonment of not less than six months nor more than six years and shall include the confiscation and seizure of equipment, tools and instruments. (Melody J. Cosep/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)
No comments:
Post a Comment