Illegal mining in Aguilar stopped
LINGAYEN—Mayor Eduardo Ballesteros of Aguilar town has ordered a mining company to stop its operations Sitio Capandanan, Barangay Manglocboc after the group failed to present the necessary permits.
The mining activity, which the town police reported to be supervised and facilitated by Chinese national Lu Xiao Min of Guandong, China, temporarily residing at Barangay Bolaoen, Bugallon, is now being investigated by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and the regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
The Aguilar police identified the operations assistant as Eddie Breguera of Barangay San Vicente, Alaminos City.
Both Lu and Breguera are allegedly employed by Multicon Mining Company, which is reportedly owned and operated by a certain Osmundo Chua with business address at Burgandy Tower on Ortigas Avenue with sub-office at Barlo, Mabini.
Aguilar police confirmed that the illegal mining activity allegedly being conducted by Multicon Mining Company has been going on since April this year.
Earlier, PENRO and MGB mobilized teams to verify reports from local residents that several men entered a public forest in Sitio Capandanan, Manlocboc to conduct mining operation.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Leduina Co denied a reported claim of the company that her office issued a permit to them, stressing that permits are under the MGB.
MGB Regional Director Carlos Tayag also said his office did not issue a mining permit to any person or company undertaking the mining activity in the area.
BLASTING
The police investigated the matter upon receipt of text messages from concerned citizens reporting an alleged attempt by a group of men “supervised by a Chinese national” to blast a tunnel in Sitio Capandanan last April 29.
When P/Sr. Insp. Jaojoco Ramos Cagaoan, Aguilar chief of police, sent an inspection team to the area, it discovered mining exploration activities in the place, particularly in a tunnel in Sitio Capandanan.
The inspection team also noted that the top soil was scraped off and flattened as pathway towards Barangay De Guzman in adjacent Mabini town.
The police also said one Antonio Polbera of Barangay Cabyangan, Mabini, employed in the operation as a helper, was seen coming out from the tunnel holding a mining tool.
Polbera admitted he collected four kilograms of cracked stones allegedly for laboratory examination to confirm the presence of copper.
As this developed, the Samahan ng mga Aguilarenians Para sa Kalikasan quickly protested the mining activity in the town.–LVM
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