THE Capitol enforcer in charge to protect the environment in western Misamis Oriental believed that illegal miners previously operating in the shuttered pits of Limonda, Opol have transferred their activity in an entirely different town, Naawan.
This, after Misamis Oriental Task Force Kalikasan team leader Allan Payla has discovered October 16 an illegal open mining pit in a far-flung barangay in the said municipality.
“Pag-abot namo sa area, caught in the act namo upat ka mga tawo nanagan,” Payla said.
Capitol task force enforcers never caught the men but they were able to seize several items used in the illegal mining operation in barangay Lubilan.
Although the barangay is 12 kilometers from Naawan proper, the illicit acts were so brazeningly done mere meters by the roadside that even their barangay chairman was shocked.
“Dako-dako ning among barangay. Wala ko nag-expect naa diay mina-mina diri,” barangay chairman Marcelo Canion said.
By the looks of the pit, Payla said that the operation started only a few weeks ago around the time the Limonda mining was raided by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
“Katong mga taga-Davao namalhin diri. Nakita siguro nila nga adunay high grade ore diri,” Payla said.
He added that they are looking into the possibility that the owner of the property is in connivance.
The landowner is allegedly a former councilor in the area.
Meanwhile, the items were promptly turned over to Naawan police station.
Limonda illegal miners pop up in Naawan, Misor official says
