LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The family of Jack Dulnuan is almost done backfilling the alleged treasure hunting tunnel inside their building in Km. 6, Betag.
A visit at the site inside an abandoned three–storey building under the management of Dulnuan’s daughter, Rose, showed workers busy filling the tunnel with cement.
The backfilling was ordered by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)–Cordillera order to prevent further damages to their neighbors’ properties.
The backfilling is expected to be finished within the week after more materials are provided by the family to complete the task.
On February 4, Lety Bagtilay submitted a letter of complaint to the village chief of Betag. The Mayor’s Office and the Municipal Engineering office acted on the problem through an ocular inspection with MGB.
On the same day, Mayor Gregorio Abalos issued a cease and desist order for Dulnuan to stop further excavation to give way for the MGB’s investigation.
The investigation report of MGB said the digging activity “is not intended for mining but for treasure hunting or deep well.”
Engr. Roland Aquino, chief of the MGB-Monitoring and Technical Services, had earlier said they directed the Dulnuan family to do immediate backfilling of the excavation to avoid further damages to the neighboring houses.
However, based on the investigation, the cracks on the neighboring houses and a new building in front of Dulnuan’s house were caused by the diggings done in their houses.
Around four houses were damaged with several cracks and sinking grounds while one new huge building in front of the Dulnuan’s house was also damaged (with walls on the upper floors being destroyed by cracks).