• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Authorities seized about P16 million worth of heavy equipment and materials and arrested seven suspects during an illegal quarrying operation in Hacienda Bag-o, Barangay Crossing Magallon, on Aug. 25.
Operatives of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) under the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), together with the Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station, the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOcPPO), and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-NIR), launched the operation following reports of unauthorized resource extraction along the Binalbagan River.
The suspects were caught dredging, loading, and transporting sand, gravel, and rocks without the required environmental permits.
Police identified them only by their aliases, “Rom,” 44, backhoe driver from Binalbagan; “Rit,” 30, resident of Hinigaran; “Jer,” 28, quarry checker from Moises Padilla; “Gem,” 37, dump truck driver from La Castellana; “Hen,” 40, dump truck driver from La Castellana; “Ron,” 42, helper from La Castellana; and another “Rit,” 45, dump truck driver from Hinigaran.
Confiscated items included one yellow Longking backhoe, four dump trucks, two record books, writing materials, and P8,000 in cash.
In a statement, PRO-NIR said the suspects may face charges for violating Republic Act No. 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. | GPB
