ORIENTAL MINDORO—Police have arrested 19 small scale miners for illegal gold mining in tourist destination Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.
Chief Insp. Juan Calaluan, information officer of the Oriental Mindoro police, said the 19 were arrested in the mountain village of Dulangan.
The Oriental Mindoro Provincial Public Safety Company and the Regional Public Safety Battalion 4B raided the illegal mining operation in Dulangan, according to a statement issued by Calaluan.
Seized from the group were mining tools and equipment that included generators, pipes and large plastic basins.
Mike Jumig, chief of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro), said those arrested face charges of illegal exploration, extraction and theft of minerals.
Board Member Romy Infantado said an ordinance against small scale mining would be finalized.
He said guidelines are being prepared with the help of quarry operators, Alliance Against Mining, Penro and local Church leaders. Madonna T. Virola, Inquirer Southern Luzon