Six persons were arrested for operating an illegal quarry in Lian, Batangas, according to the National Bureau of Investigation.
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested six persons for conducting illegal quarry operations in Lian, Batangas.
NBI Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Director Eric B. Distor identified the subjects as Rodel Marinduque; Francis Dacuya; Claudio Tamayo; Roger Betonia; Sonny Marinduque; and Jovenico Malabanan.
Distor said that the operation, which was conducted by the NBI-Environmental Crime Division (EnCD), stemmed from a letter sent by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Protection and Enforcement Task Force (DENR-EPETF) requesting full assistance to conduct investigation in the alleged illegal quarrying operations in Sitio Matuod, Barangay Binubusan in Lian town.
In response, joint teams of NBI-EnCD and DENR-EPETF, Mines and Geoscience Bureau-Region IV-A (MGB Region IV-A) conducted a surveillance operation in the target area which verified the existence of illegal quarrying activities within the area despite issuance of a cease-and-desist Order (CDO).
Further verification, the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) of Batangas issued an updated list of existing holders of Special Permit to Transport and Dispose within the Province of Batangas.
The list revealed that there is no existing permit issued within the area of Lian, Batangas, thus, making the quarrying operation in the target area unlawful and illegal.
On June 24, 2021, joint operatives of NBI-ENCD, DENR-MGB Region IV-A, and DENR-Environmental Law Enforcement Protection Service (DENR-ELEPS) conducted a law enforcement operation against the operators.
The suspects were presented for Inquest proceedings before the Office of Prosecutor General, DOJ Manila for violation of Section 103 of RA 7942, otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. (ONT)
Tags: #OpinYonBatangas, #LianBatangas, #NationalBureauOfInvestigation, #illegalquarrying