P13-M equipment seized, 3 nabbed in anti-illegal mining ops in Iligan

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A joint anti-illegal mining task force dismantled an alleged illegal mining operation and seized P13.16 million worth of heavy equipment during a raid in the hinterlands of Iligan City, Lanao del Norte on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 19.

Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano, Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10) director, commended the operating units and vowed sustained enforcement against environmental crimes.

“There will be no let-up in PRO-10’s campaign against illegal mining,” Abrahano said.

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READ: P28-M equipment seized during anti-illegal mining ops in CDO

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Joint operatives launched “Oplan Kalikasan” around 3 p.m. in Sitio Binasan, Barangay Rogongon, Iligan City, following an intelligence report from a confidential informant regarding alleged unauthorized mining operations in the area.

Law enforcers caught several individuals actively mining at the site. While some managed to flee, operatives apprehended three suspects identified by their aliases as “Rom,” 35; “Nel,” 45; and “Andoy,” 61 — all residents of this city.

Authorities also confiscated two backhoes (an SDLG and a Sumitomo SH210), eight water pumps, one fire hose, two blue plastic hoses, a bilingan (crusher/gold processing apparatus), an improvised separator, and a half-sack of suspected mineral ores with a combined estimated value of P13,160,000.

The inventory was conducted on-site in the presence of forest rangers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) Iligan and local barangay officials.

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The operation was carried out by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Iligan City Field Unit alongside the Regional Forensic Unit 10 RSOT, DENR-CENRO Iligan, Task Force Kinaiyahan of the Iligan City government, the City Mobile Force Company, and Iligan City Police Station 6.

The suspects and seized machinery were brought to the CIDG Iligan Field Unit pending the filing of appropriate charges involving mining and forestry laws.

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“We will continue to conduct focused and intelligence-driven operations and strengthen coordination with our partner agencies to stop unlawful activities that damage our environment,” Abrahano said. /das