CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro City—Joint law enforcement agencies intercepted a massive illegal mining site in Sitio Binasan, Barangay Rogongon, Iligan City, resulting in the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of heavy equipment worth an estimated ₱13.16 million on Wednesday afternoon, August 19, 2026.
The inter-agency raid, dubbed “Oplan Kalikasan,” was carried out at around 3:00 PM by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Iligan City Field Unit alongside the CIDG Regional Field Unit 10, Task Force Kinaiyahan of LGU Iligan, DENR-CENRO Iligan, Iligan City Mobile Force Company, and ICPO Police Station 6.
Authorities launched the operation after receiving verified tips from a confidential informant regarding unauthorized mineral extraction taking place in the remote area.
Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcers caught several workers actively engaged in mining operations. While a number of suspects managed to flee into the surrounding terrain, officers successfully cornered and apprehended three men.
Police identified the arrested suspects by their aliases: “Rom,” 35; “Nel,” 45; and “Andoy,” 61. All three are residents of Cagayan de Oro City.
Confiscated at the site were heavy machinery and specialized equipment, including an SDLG backhoe, a Sumitomo SH210 backhoe, eight water pumps, a bilingan (gold processing sluice), an improvised separator, fire and plastic hoses, and a half-sack of suspected mineral ores.
The formal inventory was conducted on-site in the presence of local barangay officials and DENR-CENRO forest rangers.
The suspects and confiscated items were turned over to the CIDG Iligan City Field Unit. Prosecutors are preparing charges against the suspects for violating Presidential Decree No. 705, or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, for inquest proceedings at the Iligan City Prosecutor’s Office.
Police Regional Office 10 Regional Director PBGen. Christopher N. Abrahano praised the operating units for their swift action against environmental degradation.
“There will be no let-up in PRO10’s campaign against illegal mining,” Abrahano stated. “We will continue focused, intelligence-driven operations to stop unlawful activities that damage our environment.”
