9 Chinese, 2 Pinoys nabbed for illegal mining

BALER, Aurora, Philippines – Nine Chinese nationals and two Filipinos were arrested by police after they were caught illegally hauling quarry sources along the coast in Casiguran, Aurora, police reported yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Teope, provincial police director, identified the suspects as Chin Hok Teng, Go Ah Hoi, Go Hong Keng, Go Heng Keng, Go Kim Sing, Ho Kim Cheang, Lim Kim He, Lim Kim Leong and Ti Kim Hang, all from Fookien, People’s Republic of China and Jerry Dollente of Ilocos Sur and Rey Alvis of San Felipe, Zambales. Dollente is reportedly an engineer of the Prime Nature Tech Mining Corp.

Teope said the suspects, who were presented to the Aurora Provincial Police Office, were caught hauling black sand while aboard the MV Zheng Zhou Hou ship in Barangay Esteves Tuesday.

Police Inspector George Calauad, Casiguran police chief, said the police team swooped down on the ship at around 3 p.m. Tuesday. The ship contained four tons of black sand believed used as raw materials in iron and alloy.

When arrested, the suspects could not present any document authorizing them to haul mineral resources in the province. They also could not show any passport except their identification cards. – Manny Galvez