DAVAO CITY – Police arrested four persons allegedly engaged in illegal extraction and quarrying operations for three years in Purok 41, Saavedra Relocation, Barangay Catalunan Grande, this city, on Tuesday afternoon, September 17.
OFFICIALS busted an illegal quarrying operation in Davao City on September 17.
The suspects were identified as Melanie Balaba, 44, land caretaker and resident of Barangay Catalunan Grande; Jeffrey Lagunsay, 29, backhoe operator from Tugbok District; Dante Ocso, 48, backhoe operator, and Victoriano Mijares Jr., 55, dump truck driver from Barangay Toril.
They were arrested after the barangay, with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-11 and the City Environmental and Natural Resources Office, confirmed that they lack pertinent documents to operate in the area.
In an interview on Tuesday night, September 17, at the barangay hall of Barangay Catalunan Grande, Councilors Michael Vincent de Hitta and Leopoldo Aquino disclosed that the suspects have been lying to the barangay for years, making them believe that they are developing the area.
Aquino said that they sought assistance from the MGB and the CENRO to inspect the quarry site in response to complaints from nearby residents. The suspects only presented a barangay resolution dated 2021 when officials arrived in the area.
“Upon review by the CENRO, it was found that the document presented was unsuitable for what they are doing in the area. They showed a ‘no objection’ letter issued by the barangay because they claimed the area was to be developed, possibly into a subdivision,” Aquino said.
Aquino said that the no objection letter was granted to enable the suspects to develop the area, not for quarrying and extraction purposes. He said the suspects failed to present a permit from MGB and CENRO to operate in the area.
De Hitta said they are very concerned about the illegal quarrying that has been going on and off for years as residents live near the quarry site. He added that the suspects were using the barangay and random names to enable them to justify their operations.
The two barangay councilors emphasized that Catalunan Grande has not approved and issued permits for quarrying and extraction in the area. They also said that the barangay does not allow land quarrying and extraction, which will only destroy the land and harm nearby residents.
Recovered from the suspects were one yellow backhoe XCMG XE215D with an ignition key, one yellow backhoe Liugong 921E with an ignition key, and one dump truck with license plates KAN7551 with an ignition key.
The suspects were informed of the laws they violated and their constitutional rights and detained at the Talomo Police Station. They are facing charges of violating Republic Act 7942 or The Philippine Mining Act of 1996.
Seized equipment was turned over to Barangay Catalunan Grande under the custody of the MGB for proper documentation and safekeeping.