Backhoe operator charged for illegal quarrying

By: Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz– A backhoe operator was charged Tuesday for conducting an illegal quarry operation.

The Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (CaPENRO) filed the charges for violation of Ordinace No. 11-2017 and Republic Act 7942 before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against Rian Deluviar of Brgy. llaya lvisan in lvisan, Capiz.

Also included in the charges was the driver of the dump truck used in the quarry operation who fled and remains at-large.

Members of the Capiz provincial government’s Task Force Kabalaka caught Deluviar conducting quarry operation in the place. The equipment operator failed to present a permit when confronted by authorities.

But the operator told the task force that he will call Mambusao Mayor Leodegario Jun Labao Jr. regarding the apprehension and stoppage of the operation.

When Labao arrived, mayor asked them why they stopped the quarry operation. Allegedly, some of the mayor’s companions “cornered” the CaPENRO personnel.

Despite the situation, Delubiar was apprehended and brought to Dao Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

Meanwhile, Labao admitted he was the owner of the heavy equipment used in the quarry operation in Dao.

In an interview, Labao said he went to the area to look into the alleged intervention of CaPENRO in the quarry operation.

He said the action of the CaPENRO is illegal because they did not coordinate with local officials and the police in Dao before stopping the operation.

“They did not respect the local officials of Dao. Besides, there was no violation because there was no quarry that took place”, he stressed.

Labao added that the CaPENRO personnel did not wear their uniform and identification cards. He said there was no illegal quarry conducted in the place because the owner of the subject lot asked his construction firm to flatten the place.