6 Chinese arrested in Agusan Sur; police hunt illegal mining financier

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur – Local officials and the police have promised to catch the Chinese national who allegedly financed an illegal mining operation that is threatening the Mt. Magdiwata watershed.

Senior Insp. Eprhaim Detuya, San Francisco chief of police, said they were conducting a broader investigation into the operations the Chinese syndicate following the arrest here on Saturday of six Chinese nationals linked to illegal mining operations near the Mt. Magdiwata watershed. Investigation revealed, however, that they were just workers with expired tourist visas and no working permits.

“Those responsible will be held liable for causing the destruction of the watershed,” said Mayor Jenny de Asis as he ordered close monitoring of influx into San Francisco of Chinese nationals who are mostly engaged in mining operations employing heavy equipment.

Police have yet to identify the Chinese financier and his Filipino business partners.

In 2010, police cracked down on an illegal mining operation in the guise of legitimate sand and gravel activities at Sumogbong creek, just 200 meters away from the watershed, which turned out to be a syndicate of known local businessmen and Chinese financiers.

The Catholic Church here has called on the faithful to be more vigilant about encroachment on the Mt. Magdiwata watershed. The local parish priest, Fr. Artemio Jusayan, expressed concern about unabated illegal logging and illegal mining activities within watershed at Mass last Sunday.

Jusayan said in a telephone interview that the endorsement by Barangay Alegria officials of the exploration activities of Philsaga Mining Corp. in many places near the watershed in exchange for opening a road network was cause for concern.

“The people in the entire town must know; they should be consulted,” Jusayan said, explaining that the mining was causing massive soil erosion at the foot of the mountain.

“It is not a distant reality that a flash flood will occur during heavy rain, similar to what happened in New Bataan, Compostela Valley during the onslaught of Typhoon Pablo,” he said.

Officials of the mining company have yet to issue a response to the issue, but a source said the exploration would not likely lead to full mining activities as the “mineable” reserve was located in nearby Tambis village in Surigao del Sur.

Philsaga has a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement, covering 6,000 hectares, approved by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.