Abalos closes another treasure hunting tunnel
-A A +AFriday, March 15, 2013
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Cordillera and Mayor Gregorio Abalos recently ordered the closure of yet another alleged treasure hunting activity in this town.
After the discovery of the alleged treasure hunting of Rose Dulnuan in Betag, the local government unit received another complaint on the illegal activity in Barangay Bahong, which is being undertaken within the property of Alejandro Bie.
Last month, MGB–Cordillera, Municipal Engineering Office representative Julius Mandac, Bahong village chief, the complainant Florence Ham, representatives of Marissa Bi and other concerned residents conducted an ocular inspection of the questionable area.
The inspection revealed a hole opening with circumferential measuring at 0.8 meters. It has a lateral distance of 20 feet going westward toward the residential building of Ham. With this, a sinkhole was noticed with about 45 feet distance.
Moreover, the hole opening is within the bounds of the lot of Bi. However, it was found out that the diggings are proximate at the footing of the building of Ham which irked the complainant to report the activity.
During the inspection, no workmen were found because according to witnesses, the digging is being done intermittently on a night shift basis.
When the inspection team interviewed Bie, “there was no categorical statement appertaining thereto hence, the excavation was presumed to be treasure hunting. Likewise, this could not be a subject of any mining venture considering the absence or manifestation of mineralization in the area,” the MGB findings.
With the result of the inspection, Abalos issued a cease and desist order for the workers to stop the excavation to avoid further damage.
Once the workers insist on digging, the chief executive will execute summary measures for the welfare of the neighboring houses.
Along with the order of Abalos is the order of MGB that the project proponent should stop from further excavation and to refill the tunnel.
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on March 15, 2013.
Local news
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