BAYOMBONG: Even the fragile islands in the Babuyan Channel along the country’s northernmost coast are not spared from black sand mining.
This, as an environmental group reported that clandestine black sand mining is also being conducted in the Babuyan group of islands, especially along the coastline of Camiguin island in Cagayan.
Citing reports from local communities, the Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists Inc said two big Taiwanese vessels have been alternating in going to Camiguin to siphon off black sand along the coastline using huge and extended hoses.
Sperm whale found dead
BAGUIO City: Local villagers found a dead giant sperm whale along the shoreline in a coastal village in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte on Sunday.
The dead whale was the second recovered within a period of four days along the shorelines of the province of Ilocos Norte.
Ilocos Norte’s Fishery Regulatory Coordinator Arthur Valente said the dead sperm whale measured 22.3 metres long and 3.5 metres wide and approximated to weigh between 70 and 80 tons.
Valente said that the whale could have been dead for almost a week because its body was already in a state of decomposition when it was found in Barangay Navotas.
Hero cops to be honoured
BACOLOD City: The Police Regional Office 6 will commend the two police officers injured in last Tuesday’s hostage drama in Barangay 7.
Senior Inspectors Jovil Sedel, Station 2 commander, and Ruel Culanag, deputy chief of special operations group, both of the city police office, were stabbed by the 39-year-old hostage taker identified as Roberto Arac.
Senior Superintendent Edgardo Ordaniel, acting city police director, said Sedel and Culanag would be awarded with the Medalyang Sugatang Magiting. Agencies
