Zamboanga del Sur mines sealed off

WORKERS tapped to help enforce an order of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau dismantle machines being used for illegal mining in Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

DAVAO CITY—A multinational mining firm is limiting the entry of civilians into an area covered by its license to mine in a town in Zamboanga del Sur after receiving intelligence reports about caches of firearms and explosives being smuggled in by illegal miners.

In a statement, TVI Resource Development (Phils) Inc. (TVIRD), said the intelligence reports prompted the firm to seal off an area in Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur, that is covered by a mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) that the firm received from the government.

“The entry restriction to Balabag is a precautionary measure that the company is taking to protect the safety of the community,” the statement quoted Yulo Perez, TVIRD vice president for operations, as saying.

Two weeks ago, members of the police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided several mine processing facilities in Balabag and seized high-powered firearms, 4,000 meters of explosive detonating cord, four sacks of dynamites and ammunition.

Police also seized over 400 kg of cyanide and gallons of nitric acid, which are being used in illegal mining operations.

Lucenio Manda, a Subanen leader in the mining area, said TVIRD’s area covers 4,779 hectares in Barangay Balabag in Bayog.

A group of small-scale miners calling itself Monte Oro Small Scale Miners Association (Mossma) has started digging tunnels and extracting gold ore in the area, prompting a cease and desist order from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

He said overlapping mining claims are to blame for cases of violence in the area. Manda himself was attacked by men identified with illegal mining, leading to the death of his 12-year-old son.

During the raid that yielded almost half-a-ton of cyanide, 10 men were also arrested who turned out to be working as security guards for the group Mossma. With a report from Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao