MANILA: Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday assured that criminal charges will be pursued against the Chinese nationals arrested last week for illegal magnetite or black sand mining in Aparri, Cagayan province.
“We simply cannot tolerate these illegal and immoral abuse and exploitation of our natural resources,” De Lima said on the agency’s Twitter account.
She also expressed dismay over the proliferation of mining operations in designated “no-go” mining zones especially in Central and Northern Luzon.
Black sand can be sold for a high price in the international market. It can be used in the production of concrete, steel, magnets, paint, ink, paper, jewellery and cosmetics.
“We owe it to future generations to act on this now, not later, not tomorrow but now,” De Lima said, urging the public to report black sand mining activities in their areas to the National Bureau of Investigation.
Last week, 18 Chinese nationals employed by the Hua Xia Trading and Mining Corp were arrested for alleged black sand mining along the coastlines of Aparri.
De Lima said that the Chinese nationals will be charged with appropriate criminal charges for illegally operating a mineral processing plant for black sand in Dodan and Paddaya villages.
Aside from black sand mining, the Chinese nationals may also face other charges for failing to present appropriate working permits. They also failed to show their passports, De Lima said.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service also revealed another set of Chinese workers from Hong Ze Mining Corp will be charged for black sand mining.
The firm along with Yinyi Philippines Investment Holding Group, Inc and An Bang Mining Company were found illegally operating along the shoreline of San Vicente, Ilocos Sur. The operations had been stopped last June.
Last weekend, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office head Manuel Mamba was named head of a task force against magnetite mining operations in Cagayan Valley.
The Philippine star
