CITY OF MALOLOS – Four individuals were arrested in a joint operation on Anti-illegal Quarry of “Escombro” led by Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Offices (BENRO), Bulacan Police Provincial Office (BPPO) and San Ildefonso Municipal Police Station in Brgy. Sapang Puitk, San Ildefonso, Bulacan on Tuesday.
According to BENRO Head Atty. Julius Victor Degala, the operation led to the arrest of Fernando Patac, 49, from Santa Maria; June Padilla, 45, from Marilao; Rogie Remetio, 39, and Ginglebert Verde, 46, both residents of San Ildefonso, Bulacan for violation of Mineral Theft under Section 103 of Republic Act 7942 (Philippine Mining Act), Section 71-A of the Provincial Ordinance C-005 or the Environmental Code of the Province of Bulacan, and the recent Executive Order No. 21 Series of 2022.
The operation according to Degala is part of their step-up campaign in strengthening the Provincial Government of Bulacan’s campaign against illegal quarrying wherein thousands of different sizes of Volcanic Tuff (Escombro) worth P472,000 were confiscated from the site.
Meanwhile, Governor Daniel R. Fernando pleads for the cooperation of Bulakenyos to end illegal quarry activities in the province.
“Sa mga hindi sumusunod sa batas, maging handa na kayong harapin ang mga kaukulang parusa. Sa pamamagitan ng ating BENRO at kapulisan, sinisiguro ko ang mas mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng batas upang mapanagot ang mga lumalabag dito. Kaya naman hinihikayat ko ang bawat isa na maging mapanuri at magsumbong sa mga awtoridad kung may anumang kahina-hinalang gawain sa pag-quarry upang mawakasan ang ilegal na gawaing ito sa ating mahal na lalawigan,” the governor said.
Apprehended individuals were taken to the PNP Intelligence Unit Office while other pieces of evidence including 150 pieces of chisel, five pieces of bend, four pieces of shovel, three pieces of sledgehammer, two pieces of digging bar and one unit of water pump were confiscated and turned-over to BENRO.
