Some police officials tagged protectors probers declare mining in Iloilo town as illegal

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — More than two months after the conduct of the fact-finding mission on the controversial gold mining operation in Carles town, Iloilo, the committee finally handed its verdict.

A report released to the media stated that “the team found out that the areas visited were considered illegal for violation of Section 103 of Republic Act No. 7942 of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.”

The report said that members of the fact-finding committee, together with Brgy. Chairman Rolando Lacson of Barangcalan, went to the mountainous portions of Barangcalan and Batuanan villages in Calagna-an Island.

The committee—consisting of representatives from the Police Regional Office-6, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the NAPOLCOM, the local government unit of Carles and the DENR—found out that small-scale mining operations by the residents in the two areas have no permits issued by the government agencies.

Aside from the legality of the mining operations, the investigation also focused on the alleged involvement of ranking police officers in the activities.

The committee learned that Negrense businessman Eric Lacson, owner of the Calagna-an Agro-Industrial Corporation, which has permit to do mining operations in the 790-hectare mining site, encouraged residents to sell gold to him for P1,100 per gram while a group from Masbate made a higher offer of P1,200. This allegedly started the conflict between the two factions.

Lacson was allegedly protected by a high-ranking official of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) while the Masbate group was allegedly protected by a barangay official.

Residents claimed that the police official was frequently visiting the place along with two other police officers. At the time, Sr. Supt. Allan Guisihan was still the provincial director of Negros Occidental Police but during the conduct of the probe, he was relieved and promoted as chief of staff of PRO-6.

“However, there was no proof regarding the presence of Guisihan in relation to illegal gold mining operation on the place,” the report stated.

Earlier, Mayor Arnold Betita of Carles mentioned in one of his media interviews that Guisihan and Supt. Giovani Musico, deputy director of the ICPO, were alleged protectors of illegal miners. Guisihan was also accused of deploying armed men to the mining site. He admitted, though, knowing some workers and acknowledged being a “consultant” to Lacson’s mining firm.

In its report, the committee recommended that the Carles LGU, particularly in the barangay level, should be vigilant to stop the present and any future mining activities in the area, and to assist in the enforcement of the ban against illegal mining operations.

The committee further recommended for the conduct of patrol in the mining site from time to time. Furthermore, formal investigation will be conducted and sworn statements of the witnesses will be taken to establish a probable cause for the filling of appropriate charges against involved personnel of the police. (FREEMAN)