BAROBO, Surigao del Sur – The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested three suspected illegal miners and confiscated more than ₱5.1 million worth of heavy equipment and mining materials during a coordinated anti-illegal mining operation in Barangay Bahi, Barobo, Surigao del Sur, on June 27.
The operation, spearheaded by personnel of the 1301st Maneuver Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13, was conducted in close coordination with the Barobo Municipal Police Station, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cutlog–Environmental and Natural Resources Monitoring and Information Assistance Center (MIAC), and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office 13.
Authorities caught three male suspects, aged 33, 34, and 45, all residents of Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, allegedly engaged in the extraction of mineral resources without securing the necessary permits and licenses required under Republic Act No. 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
The operation resulted in the seizure of one backhoe valued at ₱5 million, three sacks of soil materials believed to contain gold-associated minerals that were submitted for laboratory examination, one diesel-powered water pump, and seven gasoline-powered water pumps. The total estimated value of the confiscated equipment and materials reached ₱5,092,000.
The arrested suspects are currently under the custody of the Barobo Municipal Police Station while appropriate criminal charges are being prepared against them for violating the Philippine Mining Act. Meanwhile, all confiscated equipment has been turned over to the DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, for documentation and proper disposition.
In a statement, the PNP emphasized that protecting the country’s natural resources remains a top priority and stressed the importance of strong coordination among law enforcement agencies in combating environmental crimes.
“The protection of our natural resources requires firm law enforcement and strong inter-agency cooperation. We will continue to act against illegal mining operations and bring violators before the law,” the PNP said.
The police also reiterated that they will not tolerate activities that degrade the environment.
“Hindi namin palalagpasin ang sinumang sumisira sa ating likas na yaman. Patuloy kaming kikilos upang matigil ang mga ilegal na gawaing sumisira sa ating kapaligiran,” the PNP added.
According to the PNP, the successful operation forms part of its Focused Agenda, a strategic framework aimed at making police services more responsive, accountable, and mission-driven. Under its priority program on Enhanced Managing Police Operations, the organization continues to strengthen partnerships with environmental agencies to intensify the fight against illegal mining and other environmental offenses.
The operation also supports the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen environmental protection efforts and enforce laws against illegal extraction of the country’s natural resources.
The PNP reaffirmed its commitment to its campaign slogan, “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman,” as it intensifies operations against environmental crimes nationwide.