CITY OF MALOLOS – An anti-illegal quarry operation was conducted in San Ildefonso town on Tuesday that led to the arrest of four persons.

The Provincial Public Affairs Office of Bulacan reported that the joint operations of the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Offices (BENRO), Bulacan Police Provincial Office and San Ildefonso Municipal Police Station was conducted in Barangay Sapang Putik, San Ildefonso town.

BENRO chief Atty. Julius Victor Degala, reportedly identified the arrested suspects as Fernando Patac, 49, from Santa Maria; June Padilla, 45, from Marilao; Rogie Remetio, 39, and Ginglebert Verde, 46, both residents of San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

The suspects are facing charges for violation of mineral theft under Section 103 of Republic Act 7942 (Philippine Mining Act), Section 71-A of the Provincial Ordinance C-005 or the Environmental Code of the Province of Bulacan, and Executive Order No. 21 Series of 2022.

Reports reaching Col. Relly Arnedo, Bulacan Police director, said that the anti-illegal quarry operation was conducted around 8:30 pm on February 20 this year.

Initial investigation showed that on said date, a team leader of Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) reported that allegedly an illegal quarrying operation was taking place Barangay Sapang Putik, San Ildefonso, and immediately the Bulacan PNP assisted the team of Bulacan BENRO that resulted in the arrest of the suspects and confiscation of illegal quarrying tools that include 250 pieces of chisel; six pieces of shovel; nine pieces of bend; a water pump; three pieces of digging bar; and four pieces of sledgehammer.

Meanwhile, Governor Daniel Fernando was quoted as saying, “Sa mga hindi sumusunod sa batas, maging handa na kayong harapin ang mga kaukulang parusa. Sa pamamagitan ng ating BENRO at kapulisan, sinisiguro ko ang mas mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng batas upang mapanagot ang mga lumalabag dito. Kaya naman hinihikayat ko ang bawat isa na maging mapanuri at magsumbong sa mga awtoridad kung may anumang kahina-hinalang gawain sa pag-quarry upang mawakasan ang ilegal na gawaing ito sa ating mahal na lalawigan.”