DUMINGAG, Zamboanga del Sur – Authorities recovered approximately 1,500 sacks of abandoned raw mineral ore with an estimated market value of ₱2.25 million during an inspection operation in Purok 5, Barangay Dulop, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, on the afternoon of July 10, 2026.
The operation was launched at around 3:30 p.m. after the Dumingag Municipal Police Station (MPS) received information from a concerned citizen regarding several abandoned sacks believed to contain mineral ore in the area.
Responding to the report, personnel of the Dumingag MPS immediately coordinated with deputized personnel from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office 9 (MGB-9) to verify the information and conduct an on-site inspection.
During the inspection and inventory, authorities confirmed that the abandoned sacks contained raw mineral ore with an estimated total weight of 75,000 kilograms. Based on the assessment of MGB-9 personnel, the recovered mineral ore has an estimated market value of ₱2,250,000.
The recovered materials were transported to the Dumingag Municipal Police Station for proper documentation before being turned over to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-9 for appropriate disposition in accordance with existing mining and environmental regulations.
Authorities have yet to identify the owner of the abandoned mineral ore.
Police said a thorough investigation is now underway to determine who is responsible for the recovered minerals and whether violations of mining, environmental, and other applicable laws were committed.
The recovery highlights the continuing collaboration between the Philippine National Police and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in monitoring and preventing the illegal extraction, transport, and storage of mineral resources in the region.
Authorities also encouraged the public to continue reporting suspicious activities related to illegal mining and the unauthorized handling of mineral resources, emphasizing that community cooperation plays a vital role in protecting the country’s natural resources and ensuring that mining operations comply with Philippine laws.