BUTUAN CITY (October 16) — Eight Chinese nationals and 10 Filipinos were arrested after authorities raided an alleged large-scale illegal mining operation in Surigao City, seizing heavy equipment and other items valued at PHP153 million.
The operation was conducted Wednesday in Barangay Mabini, with the Police Regional Office-Caraga (PRO-13) announcing the arrests and confiscations on Thursday.
Among the items seized were 16 excavators, eight dump trucks and five payloaders, along with generator sets, improvised sluice machines, vehicles, fuel and other equipment allegedly used in illegal mining activities.
Police identified the eight Chinese nationals by their aliases as Chow, 53; Chao, 58; Hao, 39; Long, 51; Tsua Peng, 53; Yong, 53; Wen, 52; and Wan, 33.
The first five were reported to be residents of Hunan, China; Yong and Wen were from Gansu, China; and Wan was from Guangzhou, China.
Of the 10 Filipino suspects, four were from Surigao City, two from Davao City, and one each from Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao de Oro and Surigao del Norte.
Authorities also confiscated eight generator sets, eight pieces and one roll of sluice matting, four improvised sluice machines, a Toyota Hilux pickup, two compressors, a drum of hydraulic oil, 15 panel boards, seven batteries, two containers of grease oil and two drums of diesel fuel.
The recovered firearms included an Armscor Model 3 shotgun with 12 rounds of ammunition and two improvised air guns.
The operation involved the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), with support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Air Force, and various PRO-13 units.
Regional police director Brig. Gen. Rolindo Suguilon credited coordination among the participating agencies for the operation, saying they shared the goal of protecting and preserving the country’s natural resources.
Suguilon said police would pursue legal action against those responsible for the alleged large-scale illegal mining operation.
The 18 arrested individuals remain in the custody of the Surigao City Police Station, while the confiscated equipment has been turned over to MGB-Caraga for safekeeping.
The case now hinges on the authorities’ next steps: establishing the suspects’ individual roles, determining whether the operation had the required permits, and pursuing the appropriate environmental and criminal charges where evidence warrants. The DENR and MGB, which participated in the raid, will be central to determining the nature and extent of the alleged violations.
