ILIGAN CITY – Authorities recovered an estimated ₱2.5 million worth of suspected copper-bearing mineral ore from an abandoned wing van in Barangay Buru-un, Iligan City, following a joint law enforcement and environmental protection operation on July 27, 2026.
The recovery was carried out by the Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10) through a coordinated operation involving personnel from the City Intelligence Unit of the Iligan City Police Office (CIU-ICPO), other operating units of the ICPO, a deputized Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) officer, other Philippine National Police intelligence units, and representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-10 Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Iligan.
According to PRO-10, the operation stemmed from reports provided by concerned residents regarding an abandoned blue-and-silver wing van parked in the Timoga area of Barangay Buru-un. Residents informed authorities that the vehicle had remained unattended for nearly two months, raising suspicions among the community.
The situation escalated after residents reportedly witnessed unidentified individuals attempting to force open the rear compartment of the vehicle in what appeared to be an effort to steal its contents. Acting on the information, authorities immediately conducted an inspection of the abandoned vehicle.
Upon opening the cargo area, law enforcement personnel discovered approximately 500 sacks of suspected copper-bearing mineral ore stored inside the wing van. Investigators found no driver or individual claiming ownership of either the vehicle or its cargo at the scene.
Authorities also determined that no travel permit or other required transport documents authorizing the movement of the mineral shipment could be produced during the inspection, raising questions over the legality of its transport.
Representatives from DENR-10 CENRO Iligan, together with the deputized MGB officer, examined the recovered materials and confirmed that the shipment consisted of suspected copper mineral ore with an estimated market value of ₱2.5 million.
Officials emphasized that the seized materials remain subject to proper scientific examination. The recovered mineral ores, along with the abandoned wing van, will undergo a formal inventory in the presence of required witnesses before being turned over to DENR-10 CENRO and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau for documentation, safekeeping, and appropriate disposition.
The shipment will also undergo megascopic analysis and examination by the MGB to determine the exact characteristics and composition of the recovered mineral ore and to establish whether violations of existing mining and environmental laws were committed.
Police have yet to identify the owner of the abandoned vehicle or determine where the mineral ore originated. Authorities are expected to conduct further investigations to trace those responsible for the transport and possible illegal possession of the mineral resources.
PRO-10 Regional Director PBGen. Christopher N. Abrahano highlighted the importance of public cooperation in safeguarding the country’s natural resources, noting that the successful recovery was made possible through the vigilance of local residents and the close coordination among government agencies.
“Our natural resources are vital national assets that must be protected. This recovery reflects PRO10’s unwavering commitment to enforcing environmental laws, working closely with our partner agencies, and ensuring that suspected illegally transported mineral resources are properly accounted for and subjected to legal processes,” Abrahano said.
The operation underscores the continuing collaboration between law enforcement and environmental authorities in curbing the illegal transport and exploitation of mineral resources while ensuring that all recovered materials undergo proper legal and technical evaluation before any final disposition is made.