ENVIRONMENT Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga yesterday said the government is building up a case against operators of the suspected illegal mineral reprocessing plant in Paracale in Camarines Norte that employed Chinese nationals.
Yulo-Loyzaga said the DENR is working with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) — which led the joint raid operation last Sunday against the mining facility in Barangay Tugos — in the case build up.
She said the small-scale mining firm had secured a permit in 2023, but it was later found to be conducting business beyond its authorized area of operation.
“However now, they have been found to be operating beyond the area that they have been permitted to operate. And, of course, there is the presence of foreign workers,” she added, referring to the 11 Chinese nationals who were arrested during the raid and are now undergoing inquest proceedings for violation of immigration laws.
Yulo-Loyzaga said this is not the first time that Chinese nationals were arrested in connection with mining operations, citing the five Chinese nationals who were arrested last year for alleged illegal extraction of minerals in Misamis Oriental.
