The Barangay Captain of Mongokayo, T’boli, Datu Nayo Bong, was charged for alleged Violation of Section 103 of Republic Act 7942 (Theft of Minerals) by the Provincial Government of South Cotabato.
A joint team led by the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), Tiboli Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, PNP and AFP personnel conducted a surprise raid in the morning of June 19 in Sitio Motokling in the said barangay and found sufficient evidence of alleged illegal mining activity.
In the affidavit executed by Agnes Castanares, PEMO’s acting Senior Environment Management Specialist and one of the apprehending officers, she disclosed that their office have been receiving reports about clandestine illegal mining activities in the area prior to the apprehension.
She added that they recovered different mining equipment used in the illegal activity in a tunnel in Sitio Kulo Fande which is now in the custody of the Police Provincial Public Safety Management Company in T’boli.
Two workers hired by the accused barangay official, Antonio Fuazo and Ryan Montecalvo, also attested in a joint affidavit that they were misinformed by Datu Bong that he has already secured a mining permit to operate in the said tunnel.
The barangay official wrote a letter of apology dated June 23 to Governor Daisy Avance Fuentes but the case was still filed on July 24.
The case is docketed as XII-08-IN. 15600446 in the Provincial Prosecutors Office – South Cotabato
