Joint elements of the Catanduanes police and the Department of Environment and Natura; Resources (DENR) last week arrested four natives of Dugui Too, Virac who were caught in the act of illegally mining for gold in Agban, Baras.
The operation, led by personnel of the Baras police station headed by PMsg. Jonald Tapanan, accompanied by law enforcers from 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company and representatives of DENR Catanduanes, resulted in the apprehension of abaca stripper Leonito Beo Mutya, 55, Sharon Reyes Mutya, 44, abaca stripper Jesus Vargas Mutya, 59, and Henidina Tolentino Mutya, 55, at 5 PM of Aug. 6, 2025 at sitio Dalagangan, Agban.
The two couples were caught in the act of engaging in small-scale gold panning without the required permits and legal documents.
Confiscated from the group were four improvised wooden pans, three improvised sluice boxes, three shovels, three crowbars, and a vial containing gold particles with an estimated weight of 0.1 gram.
They will be charged with violation of Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
The said Act, however, provides that small-scale mining shall continue to be governed by RA 7076, or the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991.”
Under Sec, 24 of this law, the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board is mandated with declaring and segregating existing gold-rush areas for small-scale mining, awarding contracts to small-scale miners and implementing rules and regulations.
All persons undertaking small-scale mining activities are supposed to register as miners with the Board and organize themselves into cooperatives in order to qualify for the awarding of a people’s small-scale mining contract.
Violations of the provisions of RA 7076 or its rules and regulations shall be penalized with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than six (6) years and shall include the confiscation and seizure of equipment, tools and instruments.