Illegal miners told: Leave or die

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur—An irate Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza on Friday told illegal miners operating within and near the watershed area of Mt. Magdiwata here to “leave the area or face the consequences.”

“They can choose between leaving while standing or they will be removed as they lie down dead,” Plaza said during an interview with broadcaster Noel Barete of the “Kalandrakas” current affairs program aired over radio station dxSF FM here.

Plaza issued the warning amid rumors that some of those involved in the illegal mining trade have been dragging his name and have been claiming he was their “padrino,” or protector.

“Do not drag me into this, just leave,” the provincial executive said.

Inconsistency

Plaza said he could not possibly protect illegal mining and order the arrest of at least six Chinese nationals involved in the unlawful activity at the same time.

He said he ordered the arrest of the Chinese thugs after it was determined that they were using the destructive flushing technique to extract gold. Plaza said the flushing activities damaged the waterways emanating from Mt. Magdiwata.

Mt. Magdiwata was declared a protected area several years ago.

Plaza said he did not care who was been protecting illegal miners on Mt. Magdiwata and that he would have anyone involved in illegal activities arrested.

No permits

“I ordered their (Chinese nationals) immediate arrest and I don’t care whoever is behind them,” he said.

Plaza also confirmed that the provincial government has not issued new small-scale mining permits in the absence of Implementing Rules and Regulations for Executive Order No. 79, which President Aquino issued in the wake of Typhoon “Sendong.”

EO 79 outlawed small-scale mining activities in certain areas of the country, including this province.

Plaza, meanwhile, urged residents living in communities near Mt. Magdiwata and other important ecological areas to be vigilant and personally report to him destructive practices.

Elmer Luzon, manager of the San Francisco Water District (SFWD), revealed earlier that an investigation made by the water agency showed that at least 50 mining tunnels have been discovered around the

Mt. Magdiwata watershed area.

Too close for comfort

“These mining tunnels are just too close to each other. Some are just 20 meters away from each other while others have a distance of 200 meters apart,” Luzon said, citing reports from SFWD forest guards.

Luzon’s report was confirmed by Ferdinand Cortez, resident manager of Philsaga Mining Corp.

Cortez said the mining firm’s workers also saw how the distance between illegal mining tunnels have become close in recent months, as news about the abundance of gold in Mt. Magdiwata spread like wildfire.

Philsaga is a mining company that holds a mineral production sharing agreement that covers 6,000 hectares of land in the province. Chris V. Panganiban, Inquirer Mindanao