AN ENVIRONMENTAL group and the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) are urging the Department of Interior and local government (DILG) to hold village officials accountable for any inaction against illegal mining operations in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental.
Task Force Kinaiyahan, in a meeting on September 24, had come up with a plan to make village officials accountable if they refuse to cooperate with authorities in running after illegal mining operations.
"Imposible kaayo nga dili sila kahibalo nga naay gamina nga kasaba anang mga makina nga ginagamit sa operasyon," Clenro chief Edwin Dael said.
Dael said during the meeting, police suggested employing the same approach utilized in its anti-illegal drugs campaign on village officials to request them to cooperate.
"Nahisgutan namo kay naa man undersecretary from the Office of the President nga nag-attend nga paningkamotan nga madala kini sa president nga mahold accountable gyud ang mga barangay officials," Dael said.
Dael said there is no provision in the mining law that would hold barangay officials accountable if they do not cooperate.
"Sa illegal logging naa balaod nga accountable ang mga barangay official pero sa mining wala pa,"Dael added.
Dael also said the Local Government Code mandates local chief executives to be in the front lines in protecting and preserving the environment.
On Friday afternoon, September 30, Clenro seized two big hydraulic water pumps and accessories in Barangay Taglimao, in the city.
But authorities failed to arrest any suspect and illegal mining operations resumed soon after not only in Taglimano but in neighboring villages as well.
"Lisod ma-identify kay dili motug-an ang mga yano nga mga laborers nga atong gakadakpan. Unya layo pa ta makabantay na sila kay naa mana silay spotters," Dael said.
"Katong 12 ka convicted nga mga laborers wala nato to gikasuhan og criminal case kay looy man illegal extraction lang pero giwarningan nato sila nga next time theft of mineral na gyud atong i-file kay 6-12 imprisonment ang penalty," Dael added.
The group also destroyed a water impounding system constructed by the miners in barangay Cauyunan in Opo, Misamis Oriental.
"Naghimo man ta og aerial inspection nakita nato ang impounding system mao atog gibungkag last week. Naghimo sila water impouding so pag-abot sa ubos kusog ang pressure mura ra gihapon sila nag-gamit og water pumps,"Dael said.