NBI arrests 7 persons for 'illegal quarrying' in Angono, Rizal

Seven persons reportedly engaged in illegal quarrying operations in Barangay San Isidro in Angono, Rizal have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The NBI identified those arrested last May 25 as Bonbon E. Camanian, Marcial R. Bustamante, Jomar T. Marigondon, Ricky B. Buenaventura, Rustian S. Villamora, Richard S. Evangelista, and Rodel O. Pangilinan. It said that after their arrest, they were charged before the Rizal provincial prosecutor’s office with theft of minerals under Section 103 of Republic Act No. 7942, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. The NBI’s statement said: “The operation stemmed from information received by NBI-Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD) that certain individuals are extracting and disposing minerals in Barangay San Isidro without necessary permits and clearances from the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) of the Province of Rizal and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) Region IV-A.” “NBI-EnCD immediately conducted a series of surveillance operations which confirmed the quarrying activities in the target area,” it said. It added that after verification with the PMRB of Rizal, agents of NBI-EnCD learned that “no quarry permits or transport and hauling permits were issued within the area of Barangay San Isidro” and “the operators of the quarrying activity in the target area do not have permit from MGB-Region IV-A.”