IN April 2012, 13 Chinese nationals were arrested for illegal mining and possession of dynamite in Lagonoy town, Camarines Sur. Police said two sacks and three cartons of dynamite sticks were found in their possession during a raid by the authorities in Barangay Himagtocon, Lagonoy.
The miners worked for the Bicol Chromite and Manganese Corp. which was later ordered closed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) because it has no permit to transport, store, or use explosives in its operations. The Chinese miners all faced charges in court, and were presumably deported out of the country.
It has been a dozen years since this incident, yet it comes to mind again because of two similar cases that occurred just weeks ago — one in Paracale, Camarines Norte and another on Homonhon island, Eastern Samar.
‘Since mining regulation is her turf, Loyzaga as DENR head cannot escape the onus of responsibility for what has been happening…’
On October 13, 11 Chinese nationals were arrested by authorities in Camarines Norte for alleged involvement in illegal construction of a mineral processing plant, the Presidential Anti Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) announced. The joint intelligence operation was carried out by the Bureau of Immigration, PAOCC, Armed Forces, and the PNP at the Oco Mineral Processing Plant in Barangay Tugos, Paracale, Camarines Norte.
The Chinese underwent investigation by the PAOCC and immigration bureau.
On October 30, a composite team of law enforcers arrested 13 Chinese nationals for violating immigration and mining laws in Homonhon Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar on Wednesday. Raided by agents of the PAOCC, BI, Armed Forces, and PNP in Eastern Visayas were two Chinese-run firms: Rockstar Contract Solution Inc. and Global Min Met Mining Company. Of the 13 arrested, 10 were from Rockstar Contract while the remaining three were apprehended from Global Min Met.
This rape of our mineral resources of Chinese miners has been going on with impunity for years, as even Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said five Chinese nationals were also arrested for illegal extraction of minerals in Misamis Oriental last year.
Since mining regulation is her turf, Loyzaga as DENR head cannot escape the onus of responsibility for what has been happening, even as she assured her department’s cooperation in the effort to build up a case against the foreign perpetrators.
According to Loyzaga, the small-scale mining firm secured a permit in 2023 but was later found conducting business beyond its authorized area of operation.
In these raids, we note the government’s serious drive against economic sabotage and crimes with economic impact, and the relentless fight being pursued by the PAOCC under Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz against these criminals — first the POGO scammers and now, the illegal miners, all aliens working with some Filipinos. We support the PAOCC in its mission, and hope that all the branches of government will do so, too.
Local government units in Paracale and Guiuan, Eastern Samar share in the responsibility, too, in this proliferation of illegal miners in their areas, along with their respective local police offices. The DENR vowed stronger cooperation between the department and the LGUs to monitor mining operations in their respective jurisdictions, and we will hold them to this promise.
