5 Caught For Illegal Ore Processing In Northern Benguet Mining District

November 18, 2019 Provincial

La Trinidad Benguet (November 15, 2019) – Five small scale miners were arrested illegally processing gold ores in separate locations in Panat, Suyoc, Mankayan, Benguet on Thursday.
Mankayan policemen in coordination with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and DENR first caught the group of Josue Abansi Delmas, 42, native of Central Kapangan, Kapangan, Benguet; Kurt Tacay Briones, 32, native of Tokmo, Loacan, Itogon, Benguet and Christopher Minong Mat-an, 33, native of Itogon, Benguet. An hour later, Rudy Juliano Otingey, 48, native of Panat, Suyoc, was also caught in the act processing gold ore without government sanctions.
The joint police and MGB, DENR team was checking on different mining sites in the town when they red-handedly caught the five.
Two motors (dynamo) with an estimated value of Php 23,000.00 and 12 half sacks of ore with undetermined value were seized as evidence against the five for violating RA 7076 known as Illegal Processing of Ore. The five however posted bail for their temporary liberty. Authorities warned small-scale miners who have no government permission to stop processing gold ore to avoid apprehension and cases.
 
Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN