2 ‘treasure hunters’ nabbed in Lapu-Lapu

Thursday, January 26, 2012

TWO men were arrested last Tuesday for allegedly treasure-hunting in a vacant lot in Sitio Iba, Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

The suspects, identified as Lapu-Lapu Hemongala, 61, who lives in Sitio Iba, and Leopoldo Bonghanoy, 40, of Barangay Suba-Basbas, claimed that they initiated the digging upon the order of a British national to find the treasure placed in a heart-shaped concrete chest.

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Operatives of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) Task Force Kalikasan led by SPO1 Jomar Ybañez arrested the two men after the police received a tip about a strange
excavation in the area.

According to the information that reached the police, the digging has been going on for more than eight months.

During the operation, Ybañez’s team found Hemongala and Bonghanoy resting near one of the two holes, which were both about 40 meters deep, filled with water.

The team of police operatives found a water pump and a compressor that were reportedly used by the suspects.

Hemongala and Bonghanoy told the police that the British national, whom they failed to name, promised to finance the digging.

Ybañez said they found out from the City Environment and National Resources Office that the suspects failed to get the required documents to initiate the digging, as well as permits from the City Engineer’s Office and from Barangay Basak.

The suspects are detained at the LCPO headquarters, pending the filing of charges against them.