FORT DEL PILAR – Even Asia’s premier military academy is not safe from gold scalpers.
Police were informed of intruders inside the perimeters of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) scourging for minerals, in violation of the Philippine Mining Law.
Police assistance was called on Friday morning, October 25. S/Sgt. Rafael filed a complaint and arrested Kevin Aspilan found inside the PMA grounds extracting minerals.
Aspilan, who is a pocket miner and resident at Purok Ongasan, Loakan Proper, was caught in the act.
Confiscated from Aspilan were seven pieces of stone and gold ores placed in a sack, a shovel, a small chisel and a head flash light.
PMA Information Chief Agnes Lynette Flores said PMA has been dealing with intruders for a long time.
The PMA patrol is constantly on alert for illegal mining, settling as well as logging which happens inside the military camp.
Flores said the PMA patrol covers the whole perimeter of the area but still does not deter people who are bent on violating the law.
“The patrol ensures the security of the area and everything inside the camp,” she stressed.
Flores said illegal mining has been a problem in the PMA with people digging holes inside the PMA. “Kasama na ren ang illegal logging, settling at mining,” the spokesperson lamented.
Flores said the intruders have been dealt with constantly and police support has always been sought when apprehending them while proper charges are filed.
Aspilan was turned over to Police Station 4, BCPO for proper disposition and is now detained at the Baguio City Jail.