Last year, five Chinese nationals were also arrested for illegal extraction of minerals in Misamis Oriental last year. Do you know what minerals they were digging? Uranium.
In 2012, thirteen Chinese miners were arrested in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, also involved in illegal mining.
We remember these incidents because of two similar cases that occurred just weeks ago—one in Paracale, Camarines Norte and another on Homonhon island, Eastern Samar.
Eleven Chinese nationals were arrested by authorities in Camarines Norte on Oct. 13 over their alleged involvement in illegal construction of a mineral processing plant, the Presidential Anti Organized Crime Commission announced. The joint intelligence operation was carried out by the Bureau of Immigration, PAOCC, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police at the Oco Mineral Processing Plant in barangay Tugos, Paracale, Camarines Norte.
The Chinese nationals were identified as Liu Wei Xi, Chen Gui Hua, Chang Si Ci, Chen Chan Xia, Liu Wei Mang, Yu Yun Lai, Zhen Zi Yu, Li Chun, Jiu Zhong Ren, Lou Peng, and Sheng Yuan Fan. They underwent investigation by the PAOCC and immigration bureau.
More than two weeks later, a composite team of law enforcers arrested 13 Chinese nationals for violating immigration and mining laws in Homonhon Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar on Wednesday, October 30. Raided by agents of the PAOCC, BI, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police in Eastern Visayas were two Chinese-run firms: Rockstar Contract Solution Inc. and Global Min Met Mining Company. Of the 13 arrested, ten individuals were from Rockstar Contract while three were apprehended from Global Min Met.
This rape of our mineral resources of Chinese miners has been going on with impunity for years, as even Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga had to admit.
Since mining regulation is her turf, Loyzaga as head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) cannot escape the onus of responsibility for what has been happening, even as she assured her department’s cooperation in the effort to build up a case against the foreign perpetrators.
According to Loyzaga, the small-scale mining firm secured a permit in 2023 but was later found conducting business beyond its authorized area of operation.
In these raids we note the government’s serious drive against economic sabotage and crimes with economic impact, and the relentless fight being pursued by the PAOCC under Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz against these criminals—first the POGO scammers and now, the illegal miners, all aliens working with some Filipinos. We support the PAOCC in its mission, and hope that all the branches of the government will do so, too.
Local government units in Paracale and Guiuan, Eastern Samar share the blame for the proliferation of illegal miners in their areas, along with their respective local police forces. The DENR vowed stronger cooperation between the department and the LGUs to monitor mining operations, and we hope they succeed.
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