DENR investigates ‘quarrying’ at NBP

AN official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said that the DENRMines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has started its investigation on the controversial quarrying inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

In a radio interview, DENR Undersecretary for Policy Planning and International Affairs Jonas Leones said based on the initial report of the MGB Region 4A (Calabarzon), at least 10,000 cubic meters of soil were extracted from the quarrying site, with at least 6,000 cubic meters of soil missing.

“Based on the initial investigation conducted by members of the MGB Region 4A, they saw a tunnel and heavy equipment no longer operating. Based on the estimate of our personnel from the MGB, approximately, at least 10,000 cubic meters [of soil] were extracted but the stockpile was only 4,000 cubic meters. We want to know where the 6,000 cubic meters are,” Leones said.

Leones added that based on the initial assessment of the DENRMGB, there was an ongoing quarrying activity inside the NBP.

“The MGB personnel said it seems like a quarry, although we need to investigate further,” Leones added.

Leones said the DENR is having difficulty getting information from the people inside the NBP.

“People we interviewed inside the NBP provided limited information. It seems they are withholding vital facts,” Leones added.

Leones said that the members of the DENR-MGB will ask the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other intelligence agencies to be able to probe properly.

“Our personnel are also concerned about their safety so we will seek the assistance of the PNP, together with other intel agencies to get to the bottom of the quarrying operation inside the NBP,” he added.

According to Leones, the DENR also secured a sample of the soil extracted from the quarrying site to analyze its quality.

“We will analyze the soil if it has value to determine if the objective is to sell the ore in case it has value,” Leones said.

Leones vowed that the DENR will issue its findings in the coming weeks.

“We will still have an in-depth visit or ocular inspection and then probably, we can interview people to determine the purpose of the tunnel. In the next few days or weeks, we could determine the bottom of this excavation inside the Bilibid Prison,” he said.

Suspended Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Bantag claimed the hole would be used for scuba diving.