By EDWIN IYO
Correspondent
MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano over the weekend said he he would order an investigation into the alleged treasure-hunting operations in Purok 1, Barangay Tup-on in Medina town.
Emano said he has received reports about the excavations within a private property of a policeman.
Graziela Harting, a resident of the barangay, said the excavation is about a thousand square meters wide and about 60 feet deep, and approximately 100 meters from the Tup-on Elementary School.
It is about 250 to 350 meters from an ongoing barangay water supply project funded by the Department of Interior and Local Government. It is also near houses and the highway.
The excavation is allegedly being done by a company of Koreans with the use of electric submersible pumps that extract water from the site.
Residents complained of the noise resulting from the excavations, and alleged that the operations have been polluting the environment, including an artesian well.
Medina Mayor Donato Chan said he has issued a cease-and-desist order.
Conrado Mahinay Jr., Community Environment and Natural Resources officer, said the land owner failed to present documents to support the excavation.
“Ako silang giignan kung dili mo makapakita sa inyong papel mas maayo nalang nga inyong undangon ang inyong operation,” Mahinay said.
But the land owner, PO3 Delfin Handayan of the Medina police, claimed that the National Museum has issued a permit.
Harting and other residents said the diggings stopped for awhile but the operations resumed.
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