CARAMOAN,
CAMARINES SUR—Punong Barangay Mercy Sueno appealed to the Provincial Government
of Camarines Sur to stop persecuting residents of Lahuy Island in barangay Gata
in this town after four gold panners were shot in the head while eating their
dinner last Saturday at about 9:21 PM.
PREVIOUS STORY: BREAKING: 4 gold panners murdered in Caramoan
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| HELL IN PARADISE. Blood has stained the once-peaceful island barangay of Lahuy in Caramoan. Photo: Caramoan Islands |
Antecedents
In an
interview aired over BBS-DWLV and DZRP, Sueno fumed with anger as she relayed the
antecedents of the incident.
She said
that on December 4, 2013, a group who identified themselves as members of Task
Force (TF) Sagip Kalikasan of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur
captured at least 30 gold panners at around 9 AM and brought them to a remote
area near the edge of the sea.
Sueno,
who at that time was attending to important matters in Manila, was informed by
a barangay kagawad of the situation.
Over the
cellphone, Sueno appealed to Fermin Mabolo, who is the alleged administrator of
Task Force Kalikasan, to release the gold panners, as they were very hungry.
The
group of panners was set free at around 3 PM.
The next
day, Sueno arrived from Manila. She went to the area where the panners where
held captive.
There, the
punong barangay met Francisco “Iko” Tria y Ramirez III, who identified himself
as the district supervisor of TF Sagip Kalikasan in the fourth district of
Camarines Sur.
When she
asked for an explanation why the panners were captured, Tria said that the
panners did not have a permit to engage in small-scale gold mining.
Thus,
they confiscated the mining equipment and ordered them to cease such activity.
Sueno
admonished Tria, saying that instead of capturing the panners outright, the
officials of TF Sagip Kalikasan should have instead helped them understand how
to secure a permit.
“Gold
mining has been the main source of livelihood of the residents of Lahuy Island
since the 1940s, during the Second World War. When the members of Task Force
Sagip Kalikasan confiscated their equipment, their main source of livelihood
was effectively eliminated,” explained Sueno.
Around a
week after the capture occurred, the members of TF Sagip Kalikasan called for a
meeting with the panners.
They
were given two kilos of rice each, and were persuaded to stop their mining
operation.
Meanwhile,
Sueno also attended the meeting, despite not having received an invitation.
The
punong barangay, recognizing that the livelihood of her constituents was at
stake, assured TF Sagip Kalikasan that within three months, she herself will
secure the necessary permit.
From January to March 2014, Sueno sought the assistance of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to understand and resolve their predicament.
She travelled to the regional office of MGB in Legazpi City to ask for advice. She was told that small-scale mining is allowed, if the miners do not use explosives in the operation, and the mine fits into the size requirements of the office.
She also went to the MGB office in Manila to seek further help.
Just last Thursay, the residents of Lahuy received a visit from MGB representative Rex Nacional, who checked their mine.
Last Saturday, Sueno presented to the residents the documents regarding their permit.
From January to March 2014, Sueno sought the assistance of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to understand and resolve their predicament.
She travelled to the regional office of MGB in Legazpi City to ask for advice. She was told that small-scale mining is allowed, if the miners do not use explosives in the operation, and the mine fits into the size requirements of the office.
She also went to the MGB office in Manila to seek further help.
Just last Thursay, the residents of Lahuy received a visit from MGB representative Rex Nacional, who checked their mine.
Resumption
Last Saturday, Sueno presented to the residents the documents regarding their permit.
The locals
rejoiced at the news, believing that they could once again earn a living
because of this development.
To their
shock, however, Tria and a group of men armed with M16 rifles and .45 caliber
pistols barged into the area at around 11 AM, ordering the miners to stop.
Sueno,
who was at the mining site, inquired what the problem was this time.
The
confused village chief presented her ID, along with the documents from the MGB
regional and national offices. She explained that they were already given a go
signal from the government to resume their operation. She also demanded to see
Tria’s mission order. There, she discovered that Tria’s obligation was to
conduct checkpoint operations.
She
reasoned that the place was a mine, and not a road, where Tria’s group was
mandated to patrol.
Tria,
however, would not listen, according to Sueno.
Instead,
he threatened the group that if the mining does not stop, they will return with
so-called backups.
Fearing
Tria’s threat, Sueno later called Vice Mayor Irene Bries and asked for police
officers or members of the army to be deployed in the area, in case violence
ensues.
That
evening, Sueno’s worst fear happened. She received a call informing her that
some miners have been shot dead. The witnesses confirmed that the group
involved in the murder was the same that arrived with Tria earlier.
Arrest
Yesterday, joint elements of the Caramoan police and the
Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) apprehended eight suspects in the
murder at Brgy. Ilawod Gota Village in Caramoan.
The suspects were later identified as Joel Breso y
doe alias “Bay,” Angelo Refran y Enciso,
Luis Palaganas y Cleto Jr.,
Saetiel Pielago y Buen, Jonah Bolima y Bragais, Servillano Espares y Ebuengga,
Florencio Vargas y Venas, and Francisco “Iko” Tria y
Ramirez III.
Francisco “Iko” Tria is a former municipal councilor of
Sagnay, Camarines Sur. Last election, he ran for municipal mayor, but lost to
incumbent Evelyn Fuentebella.
Developments
After
her radio interview, Sueno went to the Regional Office of the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) to personally relay her information regarding the incident.
Sueno
said that what triggered Tria’s anger was the refusal of the local panners to
sell their gold to Tria’s recommended buyer, who was identified as Gege Raygon.
Residents
say that they would not sell their gold to Raygon, as her buying price is only
900 pesos per gram which is significantly lower than the price that other
buyers would pay. (With report from Ray Dizon, DZRP and Oscar Esmenda)—BICOLSTANDARD.COM
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