NBI arrests 6 persons for 'illegal quarrying' in Morong, Rizal
Six backhoe operators and truck drivers were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from an alleged illegal quarrying operation in Morong, Rizal.
The NBI identified those arrested last August 11 as Armando Orinas, John Robert Gonzales, Erven Icalabis, Rodel Celemencia, Alexander Catan and Nestor Cadavez.
It said the NBI Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD) conducted the operation in Barangay Maybancal in Morong where the quarrying was being conducted allegedly by Efsiaca Construction Supplies Trading reportedly owned by Randy M. Efsiaca.
The operation also led to the seizure of two dump trucks and two backhoes with an estimated value of P5,025,000 based on an inventory conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region IV-A (DENR-MGB), it also said.
Those arrested were presented for inquest before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila for theft of minerals under Section 103 of Republic Act No. 7942, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
Prior to the operation, the NBI said that MGB Region IV-A issued a certification which showed that “there are no valid and existing MPSA (Mineral Production Sharing Agreement), Industrial Sand and Gravel Permit, Mineral Processing Permit, Special Minerals Extraction Permit, Exploration Permit or any Memorandum of Agreement issued by the DENR-MGB within Barangay Maybancal, Municipality of Morong, Province of Rizal, nor to Mr. Randy Efsiaca.”
Also, it said that the MGB Region IV-A also certified that “no valid and existing Quarry permit or Transport and Hauling Permit (THP) was issued by the Provincial Government of Rizal to Mr. Efsiaca within the aforesaid Barangay.”
After surveillance and verification, the NBI said it was able to confirm the existence of the illegal quarrying operations.