5 arrested in Butuan for illegal “treasure hunting”

Butuan City Police arrested on Friday five individuals involved in illegal treasure hunting.

The City Police Office identified the suspects as Antonio Sumodlayon, 58; Proserdo Buenaflor, 48; Vicente Linga, 61; Ramil Sungahid, 43; and Paulo John Palingcod, 20, according to a report.

“The suspects were caught excavating and in actual treasure hunting on Friday when our police personnel arrived in Purok 25, San Roque, Barangay Tungao, Butuan City,” Fuentes said.

The police operation was conducted after residents reported their concerns over the environmental effects of the diggings done by the suspects for days.

“The suspects failed to present any permit for the excavations and a land title to signify that anyone of them owns the land,” Fuentes said.

Seized from the suspects were shovels, six pieces of “bolos” with scabbards, nine pieces of iron moils in different sizes and lengths, and other pieces of evidence.

The arrest was done with personnels of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office.