CITY OF MALOLOS — Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office along with Baliwag City Environment and Natural Resources Office conducted a joint anti-illegal quarrying operation at Brgy. Makinabang recently wherein five trucks loaded with soil without permits were seized.
To ensure a safety operation, BENRO requested support from Bulacan PNP through Lt. Col Jesus Manalo, chief of the Provincial Intelligence Unit.
BENRO Head Atty. Julius Victor C. Degala said that initially, concerned residents reported several suspicious activities in the area where disruptive noises coming from trucks passing by were being heard as well as roving men in motorcycles were being frequently seen.
Also, traces of soil extraction were visible in the area as well as a parked backhoe.
After the initial surveillance, the group went back to the identified location near Brgy. Taal in Pulilan and caught the illegal quarrying activities firsthand where five trucks loaded with soil were seized. The drivers could not provide any documentation such as Delivery Receipts thus prompted the authorities to bring the suspects to Baliwag Police Station for the processing of complaints.
Furthermore, the operator of the illegal quarry operation is still unidentified but once known, a Notice of Violation with Cease-and-Desist Order will be issued.
In accordance to Provincial Ordinance No. C-005 and Provincial Ordinance No. 64-2018, the trucks will be impounded and can only be reclaimed once the corresponding penalties are paid at the Office of the Provincial Treasurer while the backhoe will be issued a Notice of Violation.
Degala said that the conducted operation was part of the directives of Governor Daniel R. Fernando to strictly implement ordinances against illegal quarrying in the province. (UnliNews Online)
