4 men nabbed for illegal small-scale mining in Cagayan

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Four men allegedly caught in the act of illegal mining were arrested in Santiago, Claveria, Cagayan at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, police said on Thursday.

Capt. Armando Tolentino Jr., Claveria police chief, identified the arrested persons as Ben, 67, of Bakakeng Norte in Baguio City; Metring, 70, of Davildavilan, Dingalan in Aurora province; Badong, 47, of Itogon in Benguet; and lot owner Dante, 63, in Claveria town in Cagayan.

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Probers said the Claveria police with other law enforcers arrived at the compound after learning that the men had been mining without any permit, license or authority from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

Police found a 2-by-2-meter-deep-and-wide hole, dug by the men. Also seized were digging tools and bars.

A violation of the mining law is being readied against the arrested men, who were placed under police custody. /das