Seventeen suspects were arrested during an anti-illegal mining operation in Barangay Luklukan Sur, Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte on 1 July, as authorities intensified their crackdown on unauthorized mining activities.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the intelligence-driven operation was conducted in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). Led by the NBI with support from the Jose Panganiban Municipal Police Station, the operation dismantled an alleged illegal mining site where the suspects were reportedly operating without the permits required under existing mining laws.

Authorities seized heavy equipment, ore-processing facilities, suspected gold-bearing materials, mercury and improvised explosive materials, including blasting components allegedly used in the illegal operation.

The suspects are under police custody pending the filing of charges for alleged violations of environmental and other applicable laws. Explosives and related evidence were turned over to the NBI, while the remaining equipment was placed under the custody of local authorities.

The PNP said the operation highlights strengthened inter-agency coordination under its Focused Agenda on Enhanced Managing Police Operations, supporting the government’s campaign to protect natural resources, enforce environmental laws, and ensure public safety.

Meanwhile, another anti-illegal mining operation in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday led to the arrest of five suspected illegal miners and the seizure of mining equipment worth an estimated P6 million.

Police Captain Amy Simon said operatives from the Lumbia Police Station, backed by the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office’s Mobile Force Company and personnel from the DENR-MGB, raided an illegal mining site in Sitio Pasao, Barangay Dansolihon. The team caught five suspects allegedly excavating and processing mineral ore inside makeshift camps, while several others managed to escape.

The arrested suspects, identified only by their aliases Bert, 68; Marjo, 33; Billy, 34; Noli, 52; and Ricky, 21, are all residents of Barangay Dansolihon.

Confiscated during the operation were hydraulic excavators, water pumps, gold pans and other mining equipment valued at about P6 million. The suspects are being held at the Lumbia Police Station pending the filing of criminal charges.

The raid came two months after operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the MGB, and local police dismantled another illegal mining operation in Barangay Tumpagon, Cagayan de Oro City, where three suspects were arrested and equipment worth P15.6 million — including a backhoe, generator sets, trommels, welding machines and water pumps — was seized.

CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II reminded the public that under Republic Act 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, all mineral resources belong to the State and may only be explored and developed with the proper authority and in accordance with environmental laws.