Nineteen persons, including two Koreans, were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at illegal quarrying operations in Pampanga.
NBI Director Dante Gierran said the operation was conducted on Feb. 7 by agents of the NBI’s Environmental Crime Division (EnCD) against the operations of Sammi Vibro and the BM Marimla Plant.
Gierran noted that the two firms have been engaged in the extraction of lahar in Barangays Dolores and Calsadang Bayu, respectively.
However, Gierran said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has complained that the two firms were not listed among those issued with Industrial Sand and Gravel (ISAG) permits.
Because of this, those arrested have been charged with theft of minerals under Republic Act 7942, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
Two of the Sammi Vibro employees were Koreans and were identified as Gi Man Lee and Jeong Sunmi.
The others arrested were Sammi Vibro employees are John Paul Sumat, Jory Sabacan, Alberto Lingad, Joseph de Leon, Sandy Vosotros, Alex Basilio, Fernando Tomas, Tyron Manalo, Mark Glen Reyes, Rudy Libunao, Joey Madrona, Marcelino Bundoc, and Lamix Abogan.
The BM Manila employees, on the other hand, were identified as Alfer Nueva, Rodolfo Pineda, Higinio Javate, and Ener dela Cruz.
“Subjects in both operations failed to present valid documents or permits that will justify their mining operations,” Gierran also indicated.
The NBI also seized from the quarrying sites trucks, pay loaders, conveyors, and backhoes. (Jeffrey Damicog)