The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said it has uncovered a large-scale illegal mining operation in Barangay Nangcaon, Opol, Misamis Oriental, following a joint anti-illegal operation on Aug 2, 2025. The DENR in a media release posted on its website said the operation is allegedly run by an incumbent barangay official.
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 Philippine Army’s 2nd Special Forces Company carried out the raid.
One excavator operator was arrested while extracting sand, gravel, and other fluvial materials from the Iponan River system without permits. Authorities also confiscated heavy equipment such as hydraulic excavators, water pumps, hoses, sluice mats and boxes, and a sack of receipt and transaction logs linking the activity to the sale of extracted materials.
Through drone surveillance, the investigation confirmed a 4.88 hectares site with an average depth of 3 meters, indicating sustained operations and severe riverbed damage.
The suspect faces charges for theft of minerals under Section 103 of the Philippine Mining Act and for violating the Water Code of the Philippines. Investigations continue to determine the role of the barangay official and other possible accomplices.
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