• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson lauded authorities for their decisive action against illegal mining activities in Hinobaan, Negros Occidental, which recently led to the arrest of a Chinese national and eight others, and yielded about P17.5 million worth of equipment.
Among the nine suspects who were arrested was alias Xiong, a Chinese national, while the eight others were residents of Masbate, Surigao del Sur, Bukidnon, Surigao del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Davao Oriental.
They were caught in the act of extracting mineral resources from the area without lawful authority, following a joint operation of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – Negros Occidental Provincial Field Unit, personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Regional Mobile Force Battalion – Negros Island Region, Provincial Environment and Management Office, and Hinobaan police, last week.
In a statement, Lacson said effective environmental governance requires decisive enforcement anchored on the rule of law.
The province, according to the governor, remains firm in its commitment to ensure that environmental laws are strictly implemented and that regulatory processes are upheld without exception.
“A mining permit is a privilege granted by the State, it is not a right,” he stressed.
In a report, the CIDG – Negros Occidental Provincial Field Unit recovered heavy equipment, including two backhoes and three 10-wheeler dump trucks, vibrating screen machine, two boxes containing bottles of ‘Mercury’, and an automatic generator set control panel.
Hinobaan Mayor Daph Reliquias said in a statement that the operation took place after he received complaints from farmers of illegal mining activities in the area, which he immediately coordinated with the Provincial Environment and Management Office and the DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau for appropriate action.
Stressing that he is against illegal mining activities, Reliquias said any extraction of natural resources without lawful permits, regulatory compliance, and environmental safeguards in Hinobaan, is unacceptable.
While properly regulated and lawful economic activities are recognized under national policy, operations that violate environmental laws and disregard government authority have no place in our municipality, the mayor stressed.
In a statement, the Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region also reported the recovery of a red Toyota Hi-Lux vehicle, 52 ammunition for 5.56 mm firearm and 23 ammunition for caliber .45 pistol, a firearm case, and a bolo, among others.
Responsible mining can support development, but illegal or abusive practices weaken public trust, harms the ecosystem, and compromises sustainable progress, Lacson said.*
