TAMPAKAN, SOUTH COTABATO — The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tampakan, through Task Force Banlas, intensified its campaign against illegal small-scale mining operations following a joint enforcement operation conducted Saturday morning, September 19, 2026, at Sitio Campo Kilot, Barangay Pula Bato.
The operation was carried out under the directive of Municipal Mayor Leonard T. Escobillo, RN, as part of the municipal government’s efforts to address unauthorized mining activities and prevent further environmental degradation in the municipality’s mountainous areas.
The Tampakan Municipal Police Station, led by Police Major Cyrus Vince Arro, took part in the operation together with personnel of the 1205th Regional Mobile Force Battalion under its commanding officer, Police Captain Leon Pelin Siringan.
Also participating were representatives from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region XII (MGB-12), Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI), and Barangay Pula Bato officials.
The joint team proceeded to the Banlas site in Sitio Campo Kilot to conduct enforcement activities against alleged illegal small-scale mining operations in the area.
According to the municipal government’s stated objective, the operation seeks to control activities that contribute to the degradation of the mountain environment and potentially increase risks to nearby communities.
Authorities emphasized that uncontrolled mining and excavation in mountainous areas can alter natural slopes and drainage systems and may contribute to soil instability, erosion and other environmental hazards. These concerns are particularly significant in communities located near areas undergoing intensive extraction or excavation activities.
The participation of multiple government agencies and local stakeholders also reflects a coordinated approach to addressing illegal mining concerns, combining law enforcement, environmental regulation, mineral-resource monitoring and local government action.
The operation forms part of the continuing efforts of the LGU of Tampakan and Task Force Banlas to monitor and regulate mining-related activities and protect areas considered vulnerable to environmental damage.
The local government has maintained that addressing illegal small-scale mining is not only a matter of enforcing regulations but also of protecting communities from potential hazards associated with the degradation of mountainous terrain.
Authorities have yet to release additional details regarding the number of individuals encountered or any equipment, structures or materials seized during the September 19 operation.
Further actions may depend on the findings of the participating agencies and the determination of any violations under applicable environmental, mining and local government regulations.