Police in Northern Mindanao said they will go after larger networks behind illegal mining following a raid in Misamis Oriental that led to the arrest of 24 individuals and the seizure of equipment and mineral ores worth PHP 30.8 million.
The operation, carried out over the weekend in Barangay Tingalan, Opol, involved multiple police and intelligence units in coordination with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). Authorities said the scale of the operation pointed to organized, large-scale illegal mining activities.
Police Regional Office 10 Director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano said the arrests were only the initial step in a broader enforcement effort. “There are still larger individuals and networks behind these illegal mining activities, and we will pursue them through sustained intelligence gathering and strengthened inter-agency operations,” Abrahano said.
Among those arrested were two Chinese nationals, whom authorities said were overseeing the illegal extraction activities. The Bureau of Immigration has been tasked to verify the status of the foreign nationals.
The Philippine National Police said the operation was conducted in an area with limited telecommunications signal and was spearheaded by the Misamis Oriental Provincial Mobile Force, with support from regional intelligence units and PAOCC. Officers acted on information from a confidential source.
Seized during the operation were two backhoes, two generators, six water pumps, two trommels, two dump trucks, and sacks of mineral ores, all valued at more than PHP 30.8 million. The equipment and materials were inventoried in the presence of barangay officials.
PAOCC Undersecretary Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the raid formed part of the government’s campaign against economic sabotage, identifying illegal mining as a priority concern due to its environmental and economic impact.
Confiscated equipment and mineral ores will be turned over to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau for proper disposition, while authorities said all arrested individuals were informed of their constitutional rights and provided access to medical evaluation in accordance with existing laws.
How effective will sustained intelligence-driven operations be in dismantling organized illegal mining networks across the country?
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