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Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Dad mulls ban on treasure hunting
BAGUIO City Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. has proposed the banning of treasure hunting in the city to avoid further destruction of the ground brought about by diggings.
"Treasure hunting contributes to the destabilization of the earth resulting in possible cave-ins in the underground, soil erosion and weakening of the ground," Yangot said in a proposed ordinance, adding that even known tourist sites in Baguio were not spared by treasure hunters.
The Burnham Park skating rink and children's playground, including the Melvin Jones football grounds, are some of the areas where treasure hunting took place in the past, he disclosed.
He said some public officials have also been linked to the activities because these were reportedly done in the guise of implementing a government project.
He said the belief that Japanese soldiers buried treasures in some areas in the city after their defeat during World War II spawned the interest of treasure hunters to conduct diggings in several areas here.
The councilor added that the quest finding buried treasures however resulted in diggings even within forest reserves and watersheds. He said that if the practice is left unattended, accidents might happen.
Yangot said treasure hunting should be banned and those violators should be penalized with a fine of P5,000 and an imprisonment of 30 days upon the court's discretion. (RO)
(February 7, 2006 issue)
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