NBI arrests 11, including 2 Chinese for illegal quarrying in Pampanga

NBI presents 11 suspects, including 2 Chinese nationals who were arrested for illegal quarrying operations in Pampanga. Photo by Consuelo Marquez/ INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Nine Filipinos and two Chinese nationals were arrested on Wednesday by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for their alleged involvement in illegal quarrying operations in Floridablanca, Pampanga.

The NBI those arrested as Jiemvo Cadorna, Dranreb Gegante, Joey Espanola, Ruben Garcia, Danilo Carida, Erik Quiambao, Wilfredo Gonzales, Mary Jane Nguid, and Antonio Buyson. Also arrested were Chinese nationals Geng Ping and Ge Wei Chen.

Agents of the NBI’s Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD) nabbed the suspects after  receiving a complaint from the Palakol Quarry and Development Corporation that the suspects are conducting illegal quarrying operations for more than three years along the Gumain River under the Antonio Buyson Quarry and Riah Yuan Vibro mining companies.

Czar Eric Nuqui, NBI-EnCD chief said those arrested were with issued mining permits but were conducting their quarrying operations outside the permitted area.

“They would use the permits that were issued by the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board but the problem is they would be conducting quarry operations in an area different from that is issued to them,” Nuqui said during a press conference at the NBI headquarters in Manila.

NBI documents also showed that the Riah Yuan Vibro mining company is not registered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-III.

With this, operatives of NBI-EnCD went to the area and caught the suspects as they were dumping materials and arranging minerals in a vibro plant.

NBI agents seized some P12 billion worth of heavy equipment including extracted minerals from the suspects.

Nuqui said the Chinese nationals were the ones “issuing the receipts,” noting that they would operate the quarries by being representatives of the owners.

Those arrested will be facing charges for violation of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, the NBI said.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)