LINAMON, Lanao del Norte — Police intercepted an estimated P1.75 million worth of suspected mineral ores and arrested two men during a checkpoint operation in Barangay Samburon on Wednesday, July 15, in a crackdown on the illegal transport of mineral resources.
The operation began when officers flagged down a Hino wing van for a routine inspection, according to Police Major Joan Navarro, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10).
Authorities said the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, failed to present a valid driver's license, and the vehicle had an unauthorized change of color.
A subsequent inspection uncovered around 350 sacks of suspected mineral ores inside the truck.
Police said the driver was unable to produce documents authorizing the transport of the cargo.
The suspects were identified only by their aliases "Rick," 25, of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, and "Mark," 20, of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
Initial investigation showed the shipment allegedly came from Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, and was bound for Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
Authorities said the truck was unable to cross the Panguil Bridge because it reportedly exceeded the allowable weight limit by more than 30 tons. Instead, the cargo was transported by barge from Ozamiz City to Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, before it was intercepted at the Linamon checkpoint.
The two suspects may face charges for violating Republic Act No. 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
They are currently under the custody of the Linamon Municipal Police Station while authorities continue their investigation.
The seized mineral ores will undergo examination by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region 10 to determine their composition and whether they were extracted and transported legally.
Northern Mindanao regional director Police Brig. General Christopher Abrahano, commended the operating personnel for their vigilance and reaffirmed the police's commitment to curbing illegal mining.
"Illegal mining poses a serious threat to our environment, our communities, and the rule of law. PRO-10 will continue to intensify its operations against individuals and groups engaged in unlawful mining activities in close coordination with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and our other partner agencies," Abrahano said.
