The National Bureau of Investigation on Sunday announced the arrest of eight persons in Capas, Tarlac for excavating lahar sand and loading in a dump truck for disposition without necessary permits from the authorities, as authorities seized more than P10 million worth of equipment.
NBI Officer-In-Charge Eric Distor identified the suspects as Erwin Feliciano, Renoel Paulino, Eugene Madolid, Rolly Verdeflor, Alex Gato, Rodel de Jesus , Rico Duron, and Gilbert Cubelo.
Seized from them were six dump trucks and two pay loader and one backhoe with an estimated value of P 10,860,000.00.
On June 25, 2020, the eight suspects were presented for inquest proceedings before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor-Tarlac City for violation of Section 103 (Theft of Minerals) of R.A. 7942, otherwise known as the “Philippine Mining Act of 1995”.
Intelligence information received by NBI- Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD) that illegal quarrying activities are being conducted in Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Capas, Tarlac. Verification and surveillance operations conducted by NBI-EnCD revealed the presence of a group of heavy equipment extracting minerals (lahar materials) from the river and directly loading the same in the queuing trucks.