ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been consolidating evidence of environmental destruction for the filing of a writ of kalikasan against the illegal mining operators in the gold-rich town of Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur, an official said yesterday.
The move is among the steps taken by the inter-agency task group led by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) that implemented the cease and desist order against nearly 50 illegal mining operators in Sitio Balabag, Barangay Depore.
The NBI, which is part of the task group, has been receiving affidavits from affected villagers, local official, and on-site documentation of the destruction caused by tons of mine waste laden with mercury and cyanide that streamed out freely from shallow ponds dug by illegal miners.
Jose Rommel Ramirez, chief of the NBI’s Environment and Wildlife Protection Division, said witnesses revealed that the illegal mining in the area affected not only the residents of Bayog town but several areas close to the town.
One of the witnesses is Depore barangay captain Romeo Sungcad, who claimed that his constituents have stopped using the waters of Dipili River, which they suspected may be contaminated.
Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Antonio Cerilles earlier demanded that the illegal miners, which have been operating for nearly 30 years, be sued for damages.
He said the illegal mining operation in Balabag has contaminated the bodies of water in Sibugay Valley, which supply water for irrigation of the rice-producing municipalities of Bayog, Imelda, Buug, Diplahan and Siay.