14 Chinese arrested for illegal mining

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – At least 14 Chinese men were recently arrested for alleged illegal mining in Cagayan province.   

Eva Antiporda, head of the Bureau of Immigration-Aparri office, said the Chinese could not be charged with violation of immigration laws because they are legal aliens.

The Chinese were identified as De Hui Lei, He Ping Qing, Dong Yang, Dao Guang Feng; Guo Jun Feng, Jinfa Xu, Jeng Tao, He Wanlai Zhang, Jing Sun, Quiang Guo, Xuezhi Yang, Tao Deng, Qing Bo Lu and Yan Hai Wang.

Along with Filipino truck drivers – Nelson Guinoban and Ronald Labuni  – they are facing charges for violation of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 before the Aparri provincial prosecutor’s office.

The suspects, among them engineers, geologists and mechanics, were arrested for allegedly extracting black sand in Aparri’s Barangay Dodan.

Magnetite or black sand is an iron ore which is abundant along the lower stretch and mouth of the Cagayan River as well as its northern Cagayan coastline, especially in Aparri, Gonzaga,  Buguey,  Santa Ana and Santa Teresita.