The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has already filed a case for illegal mining in Zambales against 10 foreign nationals.

Facing a complaint for violation of Section 103 (Theft of Minerals) of R.A. 7942 — otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 — before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Iba, Zambales are Zhining Tang, Liao Nantu, Yichang Lin, Zhibin Xu, Jinewei Chen, Hongming Zhou, Wen Haihu, Yong Wang, Tang Peilong (all Chinese nationals) and Afrizon Hary (Indonesian).

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They were arrested in San Felipe, Zambales last May 20 by members of the NBI’s Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD).

The NBI said it had received information regarding the illegal extraction of lahar sand from the mouth of Macolcol River, San Felipe, Zambales, being undertaken by foreign dredging vessels commissioned by domestic firms that have no government permit.

After conducting surveillance operations, the NBI pushed through with the arrest.

“The 10 arrested foreign nationals, most of whom are Chinese, were caught in flagrante operating the dredging vessel SL-D1 siphoning sand which is suspected to be black sand from the dead river and transporting its cargo to the mother vessel. Five (5) vessels along the mouth of the Macolcol River were likewise seized. The confiscated vessels consist of one (1) dredger vessel, one (1) tugboat, and three (3) dumb barge,” NBI Director Dante Gierran said. JE/rga

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