17 illegal miners collared in PMA
JOINT operatives of the Baguio City Police Office and Philippine Military Academy personnel arrested 17 individuals who were caught in the act of illegal mining inside the PMA Compound, Fort Del Pilar, near the Tower 66 on July 20.
Arrested during the operation were Rufino Zubia y Daloria, married, 48, resident of Basa, Loakan Proper, Baguio City; Dayote Artemio y Papay, married, 47, resident of Basa, Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet; Miguel Legaspi y Letada, married, 42, resident of Purok 28, Irisan, Baguio City; Mariano Lacondazo y Facundo, 38, resident of Littac Sur, Santol, La Union; Edgar Lupian y Galleo, married, 37, resident of Purok 28, San Carlos Height, Baguio City; Paul Mark Rivera y Letada, married, 31, resident of Purok 28, San Carlos Heights, Baguio City; Raffy Foyawon y Acfiawon, 28, native and resident of Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet; Felmore Empizo y Fabian, 27, resident of Camp 6, Tuba Benguet; June Rivera y Peralta, single, 27, resident of Purok 28, Irisan, Baguio City; Wilmer Maclinic y Dalipe, married, 27, resident of Virac, Itogon, Benguet; Marvin Lupian y Sendong, married, 25, resident of Purok 28 Upper Irisan, Baguio City; Aimon Maclinic y Dalipe, single, 22, resident of Basa, Loakan Proper, Baguio City; Herodes Lingfiawan y Chigway, single, 21, resident of Basa, Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet; Joshua Taño y Dadacay, single, 19, resident of Purok 28, Irisan, Baguio City; Jake Maclinic y Kay-an, single, 19, resedent of Paracelis, Mountain Province; and two 17 year olds.
Recovered from the suspects were close to 20 sacks of soil, five pieces newly cut pine lumber used as support for the mining holes, blower, sledge hammer, chisel, shovel, and 15 flash lights.
Authorities are currently conducting in depth investigation to identify other miners who escaped during the operation for their immediate arrest.
Arrested individuals and seized items are now under the custody of Police Station 4 of the BCPO while the two minors were turned-over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Roderick Osis