DENR shuts down treasure hunting at Paoay coral rock formation

The sand dunes in Paoay, Ilocos Norte (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ NELSON MATAWARAN AND ALARIC YANOS)

PAOAY, Ilocos Norte — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shut down three treasure hunting dig sites at a coral rock formation near a popular tourist site here on Wednesday.

A government team discovered the excavation sites, which were estimated to be 17 meters deep, in Barangay Masintoc’s subvillage of Culili, near the popular Paoay sand dunes.

Oliver Cadang, the team leader from the Ilocos Norte provincial environment and resources office (PENRO), said they closed the operation because the dig site did not have the proper local permits.

The team arrested Asuncion Mariano, who operated the dig sites, and five of his companions: Jen Aspiras of Laguna, Nora San Juan of Quezon City, Jimmy Manaois of Pangasinan, Louie Franco of Taguig and Edilberto Agamata of Dingras in Ilocos Norte who served as the camp watchman.  SFM

An example of a coral rock formation in Ilocos Norte. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ KARA SANTOS)