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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Black sand mining eyed in the killing of Aparri, Cagayan vice mayor

Black sand mining eyed in the killing of Aparri, Cagayan vice mayor

Published Mar 13, 2023 06:36 am
Police investigators are now pursuing a business angle in the killing of Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda in the Feb. 19 ambush that also left five other people dead. PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. particularly mentioned the alleged rampant black sand mining in the province of Cagayan as the possible motive in the killing. Not that Alameda was engaged in that business but Azurin said Alameda had been very vocal against it. “The black sand mining has been a long issue in Cagayan. This is one of the angles being pursued because Vice Mayor Alameda had been against that kind of business which some of his kababayan in Cagayan are engaged in,” said Azurin. The black sand that is mined in Cagayan, according to Azurin, is being sold to the Chinese. In the past few years, the black sand mining has triggered speculations that they are ironically being used in the construction of structures in the West Philippine Sea. Alameda’s car was strafed with bullets by police uniform-wearing gunmen in front of a school in Nueva Vizcaya. Police earlier said they have already identified the owner of the getaway car that was burned by the gunmen on their way to escape. Azurin said they already have several persons of interest in the black sand mining angle. “We are just trying to solidify the pieces of evidence so that it will stand in court,” said Azurin.  
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