SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13), working jointly with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has filed criminal charges against six individuals, including two Chinese nationals, for alleged illegal mining activities in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur.
In a statement on Sunday, PRO-13 said the cases were filed for violations of Republic Act No. 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, following a series of law enforcement operations conducted from February 5 to 6.
Five of the suspects were arrested on February 5 while allegedly engaged in active mining operations without the required permits in an area later confirmed to be within the municipality of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
Authorities initially received reports placing the activity in Purok 6, Barangay Guinhalinan, Barobo town in Surigao del Sur, but coordination with the local government units established that the site fell under San Francisco’s jurisdiction.
Those arrested were identified only by their aliases: Ty, Sy, Jun, Rolan, and Isidro.
The operation was carried out by joint teams from DENR Caraga, PRO-13, the Regional Intelligence Unit 13 (RIU-13), and the 14th Special Action Company of the 1st Special Action Battalion.
A sixth suspect, identified as alias Jayson, was apprehended in a separate operation on February 6 in Purok 7, Barangay Javier, Barobo, Surigao del Sur. DENR subsequently filed a similar charge against him before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, under Docket No. XIII-07c-INQ.-26b-00017.
Authorities said multiple enforcement units participated in the operations, including the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)–Lianga; the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office; the 1301st Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13; the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)–Surigao del Sur; RIU-13; and the Barobo Municipal Police Station.
PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Marcial Mariano P. Magistrado IV underscored the importance of environmental protection, warning of the consequences of unchecked exploitation of natural resources.
“As stewards of our natural resources, we are all tasked with the responsibility to protect and preserve them,” Magistrado said. “Failure to do so will inevitably result in suffering brought about by earthquakes, flash floods, typhoons, and other natural calamities.”
He urged the public to support government efforts against illegal mining and other activities that threaten the environment.
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