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Barangay official eyed in large-scale illegal mining in Opol, Misamis Oriental— DENR

Philippines | National

Barangay official eyed in large-scale illegal mining in Opol, Misamis Oriental— DENR

By Jel Santos

(DENR PHOTO)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) uncovered the alleged involvement of a barangay official in a large-scale illegal mining operation during a joint government raid in Barangay Nangcaon, Opol, Misamis Oriental, on August 2.

In a statement, the agency said the operation resulted in the arrest of one individual and the confiscation of heavy equipment used in the unauthorized extraction of sand, gravel, and other fluvial materials from the Iponan River system.

The raid was carried out by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region X (MGB-10), Environmental Management Bureau Region 10 (EMB-10), National Bureau of Investigation–North Eastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-NEMRO), and the 2nd Special Forces Company of the Philippine Army.

(DENR PHOTO)

Authorities said the arrested individual was caught operating a hydraulic excavator at the site.

Intelligence reports identify a sitting barangay official as the alleged operator behind the illegal activity.

Confiscated during the operation were three hydraulic excavators, ten water pumps, hoses, sluice mats, sluice boxes, a wooden pan, and a sack containing receipts and transaction logs. These documents reportedly link the site to the sale of extracted minerals.

“Drone footage and ground verification revealed a 4.88-hectare disturbed area with excavation depths averaging three meters, confirming the large-scale and sustained nature of the illegal activity and highlighting the severe environmental degradation of the river system,” the agency said.

(DENR PHOTO)

The arrested individual faces charges for theft of minerals under Section 103 of Republic Act No. 7942, also known as the Philippine Mining Act, and for violations of the Water Code of the Philippines.

According to DENR, further investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the operation and the official’s involvement.

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