With an appeal by Mayor Aly T. Romano still pending before higher headquarters, the San Andres chief of police remains at his post for now following an attempt by the Catanduanes Police Provincial Office to remove the latter in connection with reports of illegal mining activities within the town.
According to reports received by the Tribune, the local chief executive fired off a letter to the Police Regional Office No. 5 at Camp Simeon Ola, seeking reconsideration of the decision of Catanduanes Police Provincial Director PCol. Virgilio R. Buena relieving PMaj. Francis I. Tabo II of his command.
It is claimed that the regional headquarters asked Romano whom he would endorse as the next police chief but he reportedly insisted that Tabo continue to head the San Andres Municipal Police Station.
In a letter dated July 30, 2026, a copy of which was obtained by the Tribune, PD Buena informed the mayor that the decision to relieve Tabo was in line with the Catanduanes police’s continuing commitment to uphold the rule of law, strengthen public trust, and ensure effective law enforcement.
Buena said that the administrative action is being undertaken in view of the reported illegal mining activities in the municipality as well as last week’s incident in which an individual lost his life after being buried by a collapsing soil mass in an area associated with such activities.
“This unfortunate incident underscores the need for stronger leadership, enhanced operational supervision, and a renewed commitment to the strict enforcement of environmental laws and other applicable statutes,” he stressed.
He added that while the appropriate investigations and legal processes shall proceed independently and in accordance with existing laws, the relief of the chief of police is intended to “preserve the integrity of police operations, reinforce public confidence in the Catanduanes police, and unequivocably demonstrate its sincerity and unwavering commitment to eradicate all forms of illegal mining not only within the municipality of San Andres but also the entire province of Catanduanes.
The police director asked Mayor Romano to endorse one officer for designation as the next COP of San Andres MPS from among PMaj. Jumar A. Delavin, PCpt. Benjamin P. Bu-ucan, PCpt. Roger S. Castillo, PLt. Jian Carl A. Napao and PLt. Abdul Fatah I. Pansar.
“Each of the above-named officers possesses the qualifications, competence, leadership experience, and professional integrity necessary to effectively lead the municipal police station and intensify the campaign against illegal mining and other forms of criminality,” PCol. Buena told the chief executive.
Mayor Romano has reportedly asked the Police Regional Office 5 to retain Tabo at his post but the latter has yet to decide on the matter as of presstime.
Camp Camacho’s surprise move comes a day after it announced that it has agreed with DENR’s Community Environment Natural Resources Office (CENRO) to create Task Force Obi in a bid to strengthen the campaign against illegal mining.
PCol. Buena’s initiative led to the deployment of operatives of the Catanduanes 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company to barangay Obi, which was selected as the task force’s base due to its strategic location that would help ensure security, communications and fast response of the authorities.
Obi barangay captain Leoncio N. Zuniega Jr. supported the operation by providing temporary quarters for the team and other necessities.
The task force’s creation is pursuant to the directive of Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza to heighten security in the area, ensure the strict implementation of environmental laws, and put an end to illegal mining in Catanduanes.
The Catanduanes police also called on the public to join the campaign by immediately reporting to the authorities any suspicious or illegal activity associated with mining.
According to accounts of barangay officials and the official report released by Camp Francisco Camacho and the Caramoran Municipal Police Station, the July 27, 2026 incident occurred in Sitio Macacaw somewhere in the forested areas between San Andres town and barangay Obi, Caramoran.
Based on the investigation, the lone fatality, Michael Jay San Juan, 23, an abaca stripper and resident of Datag East, Caramoran, was with his father-in-law, Marlon Collantes Bonavente, 38, also an abaca stripper from Obi, and the latter’s 16-year-old son, a Grade 6 pupil at Obi Elementary School.
They were excavating a huge hole in the ground at about 7 PM when a large portion of the soil suddenly collapsed and buried two of them.
The avalanche of earth completely covered Michael, causing him to suffocate to death, while only Marlon’s head showed above the pile of soil.
His son, who escaped unharmed, immediately rescued his father by digging around him until he managed to extricate himself.
In the thick of the night, the son left to seek assistance from barangay Obi about three to four hours hike during daytime.
The boy most likely reached the barangay sometime after midnight, with Punong Barangay Zuniega organizing a rescue team composed of tanods who set off before sunrise.
The hike through the forest to reach the site probably took another four hours, with the team returning to the village at 2 PM carrying the injured Bonavente.
After accompanying the Bonaventes to the nearest hospital, Zuniega reportedly asked his tanods if they still had the strength to go back and retrieve San Juan’s body.
Apparently they did return, carrying the wrapped body slung on bamboo pole and reaching the barangay at 4:30 AM the next day, July 28.
Upon being informed of the body’s recovery, the Caramoran MPS officer-in-charge, PLt. Mar Joseph A. Reburiano, immediately sent personnel to secure the area and coordinated with the Provincial Forensic Unit (PFU) Scene-of-the-Crime Operatives (SOCO).
He said that investigation is still ongoing to determine the exact cause of San Juan’s death and to ascertain whether any violations of environmental or occupational safety laws were committed.
PD Buena personally visited Obi to join the investigation and discussed the situation with Chairman Zuniega.
San Juan left behind his pregnant live-in-partner, with his father-in-law appealing to authorities and the public for whatever assistance they could spare for burial expenses.
In an interview, Punong Barangay Zuniega said that poverty is forcing many abaca strippers to engage in gold panning despite the danger and the risk of getting caught.
The worsening situation of abaca farmers in Catanduanes is due to the extensive damage inflicted on majority of the island’s abaca plantations by two successive super typhoons, Pepito in 2024 and Uwan in 2025.