CAMARINES NORTE, Philippines – Four men reportedly engaged in a small-scale mining operation were shot and killed by alleged members of Bantay Kalikasan task force in the town of Caramoan in Camarines Sur on Saturday, authorities reported yesterday.
The fatalities were Salen Virtus, 24; Jessie Brondia, 34; Julio Labiano, 31, and his brother Rene, 28, said town police chief Senior Inspector Chester Pomar.
Police arrested eight suspects in a follow-up operation on the island of Lahuy in Barangay Ilawod Gota – Joel Breso, Angelo Refran, Luis Palaganas Jr., Saetiel Pielago, Jonah Bolima, Servillano Espares Jr., Florencio Vargas and Francisco Tria III, supervisor of 4th district Sagip Kalikasan Task Force.
Tria was reportedly often seen in the village, as he was in charge of enforcing the anti-gold panning policy.
Earlier, reports said that a village official asked the Task Force Kalikasan to be lenient to residents who earn their livelihood from gold panning.
“We are starving here because the sea is still rough and we have no other source of livelihood but to find gold,†a resident said.
After last Saturday’s incident, the village official reportedly went into hiding, as he fears for his safety.
Investigators found personal grudge as a motive for the killing.
Police are preparing to file multiple murder charges against the suspects.