CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Authorities apprehended twelve individuals, including a retired police officer and a minor, during two separate anti-illegal mining operations in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City on Friday, April 19, 2025 — exposing not only a growing black market for mineral ores but also the irreversible damage illegal mining inflicts on the environment.
The first operation, carried out around 12:43 a.m. by personnel from the City Mobile Force Company (CMFC) of Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, intercepted two pickup trucks at a checkpoint along Domalokdok Bridge in Barangay Tumpagon. The vehicles, a red Nissan Navarra and a black Toyota Hilux, were flagged down for visibly carrying sacks of suspected raw gold ores.
Seven men, all residents of Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro, were taken into custody after the drivers failed to present any legal documents permitting the transport of mineral resources. A total of 70 sacks of raw gold ore were confiscated and turned over to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for evaluation.
Later that morning, at around 8:40 a.m., another team from CMFC-Iligan City Police Office and PS6 ICPO intercepted a gray Chevrolet Duramax pickup at a checkpoint in Barangay Digkilaan, Iligan City. Acting on a tip from a concerned citizen, authorities discovered 15 sacks of suspected mineral ores loaded in the vehicle.
Five suspects were arrested, including a retired police officer, along with a 16-year-old minor. All adult suspects are facing charges, while the minor has been placed under the care of the Bahay Pag-asa youth rehabilitation center.
Authorities stressed that beyond the criminal aspect, illegal mining poses severe risks to the environment. The unchecked extraction of mineral ores without proper permits often leads to deforestation, soil erosion, and the contamination of rivers and water sources — endangering local biodiversity and the health of surrounding communities.
Police Regional Office 10 (PRO10) Regional Director PBGen Jaysen C. De Guzman lauded the swift action of the operatives, underscoring the need for vigilance and public cooperation in the fight against illegal mining.
“Illegal mining does not only rob the government of rightful revenues, it also robs our environment of balance and sustainability,” De Guzman said. “PRO10 will continue working closely with other agencies and the public to protect our natural resources.”
Environmental groups in Northern Mindanao have long sounded the alarm over small-scale and unregulated mining, which they say scars landscapes, displaces wildlife, and pollutes rivers critical to farming and drinking water.
Authorities urge the public to report suspicious activities involving the extraction or transport of mineral resources, as the government ramps up its crackdown on operations that destroy the environment and exploit unregulated labor.