Seven persons, two of them barangay officials in Tarlac City, were arrested for alleged illegal quarrying and almost P2 million worth of equipment were seized from them by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
In a statement issued on Friday, Oct. 7, the NBI identified the arrested barangay officials as Chairman Albert Mercado and Councilor Arturo Dela Cruz of Barangay Sta. Maria.
Also arrested last Oct. 3 were Joel Santos, Jesus Santos, Jessie Santos, Jonathan Santos, and Jerry Espinosa, the NBI said.
“Arrested Subjects were caught in flagrante de licto (in the act) conducting a quarry operation without the necessary documents from any of the concerned government agencies,” the NBI said.
“One (1) payloader and four (4) trucks with a total value of P1,800,000 were seized and turned over to the appropriate office,” it said.
It added that those arrested were presented for inquest before the Tarlac City Prosecutor’s Office for theft of minerals in violation of Section 103 of Republic Act No. 7942, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
The NBI said “the proceeds of the quarry operation are being shared by Barangay Captain Mercado and the Provincial Government of Tarlac at 60:40 ratio.”
“Further investigation revealed that Royal Crown Monarch, Inc., an entity contracted by the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) for the construction of government projects in Tarlac City, has been sourcing earth materials from the said illegal quarry operation to complete its contracts,” it added.
TAGS: #NBI #QUARRYING