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Saturday, November 19, 2005
Environment chief orders 100 mine tunnels closed
DAVAO CITY -- Environment Secretary Michael Defensor ordered Friday the closure of all mine tunnels in Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo, Compostela Valley.
The order followed the findings of an investigating team showed that explosives caused the October 26 cave-in in the gold-rich mountain that killed 32 people.
The National Government banned the use of explosives after it took over the operation in the gold rush area almost two years ago.
The closure is expected to affect more than 40,000 miners working in at least 100 tunnels in Diwalwal.
Defensor said the government would file charges against JB Management and Mining Corporation (JBMMC), owner of the Sunshine Tunnel where the cave-in happened.
No other details were available Friday as Defensor was still holding a close-door meeting with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Mindanao Affairs Secretary Jesus Dureza, and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales at the Marco Polo Hotel.
Post-blast investigators that looked into the October 26 incident in Diwalwal recovered detonating cords and blasting caps inside the tunnel, according to Senior Superintendent Samuel Navaja, police deputy regional director for operations.
The items recovered from the tunnel indicated that an explosion inside the tunnel might have caused the cave-in. This was contrary to claims of JBMMC that the cave-in occurred before the explosion.
Navaja added that the autopsy reports on at least five of the estimated 32 miners killed in the accident also showed the cause of death was asphyxia due to inhalation of smoke coming from explosive components.
He, however, refused to identify what particular explosive components were found inside the tunnel.
But an explosive expert who went inside the tunnel earlier told Sun.Star Davao he smelled traces of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil (Anfo) mixture in the air.
A total of 14 forensic experts from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division, PNP Crime
Laboratory, and PRO-EOD led by SPO4 Miguel Vicente conducted the more than two-week investigation.
Navaja described their investigation report as "solid and fair". (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(November 19, 2005 issue)
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