Smuggled manganese ore seized in Vizcaya

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Four dump trucks loaded with precious ore were apprehended by operatives for their questionable transport permits in separate operations in the past three days.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personnel here have intercepted the three dump trucks, each loaded with around 15 cubic meters of manganese ore at a checkpoint along the national highway in Barangay Calitlitan, Aritao town.

The trucks were on their way to Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union when they were apprehended. They are now under temporary safekeeping by the police and DENR here, pending verification of the authenticity of their transport permits.

Police certification obtained by The STAR showed that the confiscated minerals were owned by the Kablaaw Manganese Association, which allegedly contracted one of the manganese quarry projects here.

The seized raw minerals were reportedly extracted in remote sitio Burburnay, Barangay Bonifacio in Quezon town, the site of the highly controversial multi-million-peso manganese project.

Raw manganese sold to foreign buyers here for at least $100 per metric ton are being shipped to either the Peoples Republic of China or Taiwan for ‘flotation.’ – Charlie Lagasca