ILIGAN CITY — A composite force from various police units manning a checkpoint intercepted a truckload of mineral ores in San Fernando town, Bukidnon province, on Friday, Nov. 7

According to the Northern Mindanao Police Regional Office (PRO-10), the truck was stopped at a regional border control point in Sitio Nabunturan, Barangay Kalagangan of San Fernando town, for vehicles leaving Bukidnon and entering Davao del Norte province.

The checkpoint was manned by personnel from the 1003rd Maneuver Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10, Provincial Intelligence Unit and San Fernando municipal police station.

A certain Jaypee, 24, who was driving the truck, reportedly showed a sand and gravel quarrying permit. But upon inspection, authorities found some 500 sacks of suspected mineral ores.

These were transported from Barangay Dao of San Fernando town, an area previously linked to illegal mining operations, to Tagum City in Davao del Norte.

Personnel from the town’s environment office later confirmed the cargo to be illegally extracted minerals, estimated to be valued at P10 million.

Authorities seized the dump truck, several mining-related equipment, and the sacks of alleged mineral ores, and turned these over to the San Fernando local government for safekeeping and disposition, while charges against the driver are being prepared in coordination with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), PRO-10 said. (Divina M. Suson/Inquirer)