By CESAR JOLITO III

Nine individuals were arrested in alleged illegal mining activities at Barangay Bacuyangan in Negros Occidental’s Hinoba-an town on Thursday, February 26.

The suspects — whose identities were released only by aliases—include drivers, generator operators, backhoe operators, and a mining manager, with residences across multiple regions, including Negros Occidental, Masbate, Surigao del Sur, Bukidnon, Surigao del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Davao Oriental.

Seized during the operation were two backhoes, a vibrating screen, a generator control panel, two 10-wheeler dump trucks, two boxes of mercury bottles, identification documents, ammunition, a firearm case, a bolo, and a pickup truck.

Authorities said the suspects were caught in flagrante delicto extracting and exploiting mineral resources without lawful authority.

Coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau confirmed no valid permits were issued for mining.

They face charges under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991.

Police emphasized that illegal mining and natural resource exploitation would not be tolerated in the region.

Through interagency collaboration, the activity was halted immediately and seized materials secured./WDJ