BUTUAN CITY – A joint anti-illegal mining operation led by the Police Regional Office 13 (PRO-13), in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), resulted in the recovery of 1,856 sacks of suspected illegally mined copper minerals with an estimated market value of ₱600,000 in the municipality of Tubay, Agusan del Norte on July 13.
The operation underscores the government’s intensified efforts to crack down on illegal mining activities that continue to threaten the environment, deprive the state of lawful revenues, and endanger surrounding communities.
According to police reports, authorities acted on intelligence information received by the Tubay Municipal Police Station (MPS) regarding a large cache of suspected copper minerals hidden inside a “banlag,” a makeshift storage shed situated in Purok 7, Barangay Santa Ana, Tubay, Agusan del Norte.
Acting swiftly on the report, personnel from the Tubay MPS, together with the 2nd Agusan del Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company (2nd ADNPMFC), coordinated with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Tubay, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO)-Tubay, and the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD)-Agusan del Norte to conduct a joint enforcement operation.
During the inspection, authorities discovered and recovered 1,856 sacks containing suspected copper minerals, which investigators believe were extracted, transported, or stored without the necessary permits or lawful authority.
Initial findings indicate that the recovered minerals may constitute a violation of Section 103 of Republic Act No. 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, which penalizes the unauthorized extraction, transport, possession, and trading of mineral resources.
Following the operation, the confiscated copper minerals were turned over to CENRO-Tubay for proper documentation, custody, and confiscation proceedings. The recovered materials will subsequently be endorsed to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Surigao City for technical evaluation and further appropriate action.
Authorities are also conducting a thorough investigation to identify the owner of the recovered mineral stockpile and determine the individuals or groups responsible for its alleged illegal extraction and storage. Once sufficient evidence is gathered, appropriate criminal charges will be filed against those found liable.
PRO-13 reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration with the DENR and other government offices in combating illegal mining operations across the Caraga Region. Police officials likewise urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspected illegal mining activities, emphasizing that community participation plays a vital role in protecting the country’s natural resources and preserving environmental sustainability.
Illegal mining remains a persistent concern in several mineral-rich areas of Mindanao, where unauthorized extraction not only causes environmental degradation but also poses serious risks to public safety, watersheds, and local ecosystems. Authorities said operations against violators will continue as part of the government’s broader campaign to ensure responsible and lawful utilization of the country’s mineral resources.