Drones caught them – now 3 Iloilo quarry operators face charges

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office is preparing to file charges against three alleged illegal quarry operators in the province following an ongoing case buildup.

PGENRO head Cesar Emmanuelle Buyco Jr. said investigators have consolidated what they believe is sufficient evidence against the first three respondents identified in the probe.

“The first three already have compiled evidence which we think is sufficient for filing. For the others, we are still conducting backtracking,” Buyco said in an interview with One Western Visayas.

Authorities withheld the identities of the three respondents pending the formal filing of charges.

Buyco said additional cases may still be filed as validation and evidence gathering continue against other personalities linked to alleged illegal quarry operations.

The PGENRO earlier disclosed that six personalities were under investigation, including politicians, businessmen, and alleged members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Authorities have been closely monitoring parts of Dueñas, Calinog, and Lambunao, where illegal quarrying activities were previously reported.

In April, authorities conducted a joint anti-illegal quarrying operation involving the PGENRO, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 6, and Special Weapons and Tactics units along the boundaries of the three municipalities.

No arrests were made after operators reportedly fled before authorities arrived, despite drone surveillance confirming ongoing quarrying activity ahead of the raid.

Authorities recovered six abandoned backhoes in Barangay Cabudian, Dueñas, which were later placed under barangay custody.

Individuals found involved in illegal quarrying may face charges for violating Provincial Ordinance No. 2025-354 and Section 103 of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, which penalizes the unauthorized extraction or theft of minerals.

In a separate interview, Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial Federation President Amalia Victoria Debuque expressed support for the provincial government’s campaign against illegal quarrying.

Debuque denied allegations linking her family to supposed illegal quarry operations in her hometown of Anilao.

“Our family does not involve itself in any illegal activities,” Debuque said.

The PGENRO confirmed it has received complaints regarding alleged illegal quarry activities in Anilao and that validation efforts are ongoing.

Authorities will not hesitate to take appropriate action if evidence warrants the filing of charges, Buyco said.

Debuque urged fellow barangay officials to ensure businesses operating in their areas are legitimate and to report suspicious activities to authorities.

“Let us stand firm that all businesses operating in our barangays should be legal, and if you see anything suspicious, do not be afraid to report it,” she said, adding that both the Liga office and the Iloilo Provincial Capitol remain open to complaints and concerns related to illegal activities.

Illegal quarrying has been a recurring enforcement challenge in interior Iloilo towns, where unregulated extraction of sand, gravel, and other minerals can accelerate riverbank erosion, damage road infrastructure, and deprive local governments of fee revenue.