Man nabbed for illegal quarrying

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 46-year-old man was arrested after he was caught in the act of quarrying sand and gravel in a river in Cabatuan, Iloilo.

Police collared the suspect, Johny Manimbayay, a resident of Barangay Pungtod Cabatuan, around 5:30 p.m. of May 13, 2020.

Police Major Niño Leonard Amar, Cabatuan police chief, said they received a report that someone was quarrying sand and gravel at Tigum River in Pungtod village.

When police responded, they saw a modified Fuso jeepney (license plate FVN-199) loaded with around two cubic meters of sand and gravel valued at P800.

Amar said the suspect failed to present any authority/permit to extract sand and gravel.

“Cabatuan has a moratorium in the extraction of sand and gravel in the whole municipality,” he said.

There were reports that it was not the first time that the suspect conducted quarry activity in the area.

He will be charged for violation of Article 6, Section 66 paragraph A of the Provincial Revenue Code of Iloilo (Illegal Quarry).