CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Authorities said illegal mining activities have stopped in hinterland villages of Opol, Misamis Oriental, more than a month after the arrest of two active police officers and four other individuals linked to unauthorized mining operations in the area.
Police Major Anthony Luy, chief of the Opol Municipal Police Station, said monitoring operations have shown no more illegal mining activity in Barangay Lumonda, a remote village situated along the boundary of Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City.
According to police reports, sustained anti-illegal mining operations jointly conducted by law enforcement authorities and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have forced illegal miners to abandon the area.
The crackdown followed a major operation on 29 April, when authorities arrested two members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) along with four civilians during a checkpoint operation in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Lumonda.
During the operation, joint police units intercepted an Mitsubishi L-300 van transporting suspected mineral ores without the required permits, leading to the arrest of all six individuals for alleged violation of Republic Act 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
Authorities recovered 58 sacks of suspected unprocessed mineral ores with an estimated value of P290,000.
Also seized during the operation were the transport vehicle, firearms, ammunition, communication devices, and other equipment believed to have been used in the illegal mining activity.
In a statement, the PNP said a thorough investigation remains ongoing, including the immediate filing of appropriate administrative charges against the police personnel involved.
